Good Choices

TJ has been slowly entering the dark, moody, confusing territory that is adolescence so when bright rays of goodness show through they need to be shared.  

Puberty (pre-puberty in this case) is difficult, even with a  good kid like TJ.  There are moments when he is sullen and combative.  He talks back to his mother, antagonizes his brother, and ignores me.  He is trying to figure his way from being a boy to being a young man.  

This period is full of bad choices and decisions.  However -
"Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment."

The other day we had an instance of good judgement.

TJ went off on his bike with his friends on a beautiful Tuesday evening.  We are fortunate to live in a neighborhood where the kids can take off on their bikes and be safe; someone always appears to be watching out for the general welfare of South Lakes.  And when they do see something amiss they post it on Facebook for a good public shaming.

TJ went off with his friends with a hard-time of 6:45 to be home for dinner.  The buddies he hangs out with are good kids so when TJ came home early I was a little confused.  He initially shrugged it off saying he just didn't feel like hanging with them.  A little while later he came to me and said that he made a good decision.  He said that the boys wanted to enter the new High School that is under construction right next to our development.  He said he knew it was wrong to enter into the building and he left before they got caught.

It's a strange time in his life to navigate; live by your parents rules or follow the crowd.  TJ is slowly coming to the point where our rules and expectations are becoming his.  Yes, there is a long way to go between 12 years old and manhood but he is off to a good start.