Thanks man....

I got an interesting job, I admit that freely J

Not a typical day but not atypical either…..

I work with teenagers. Let me demystify something for you if you are interested. If you’re not, see ya LOL

They are people. They are closer to childhood than full blown adulthood. They hurt. They have great senses of humor. They have an incredible capacity to love. They also are capable of unimaginable cruelty. If you are real to them, the love always shines through.

Two examples that stick in my mind from recent days:

Young lady. Major vision issues. Has to have any written material read to her. She and I were talking about the impending Winter Formal. Now it is my understanding that this is a situation in a young female’s life that is fraught with tension and anxiety. I know I’m outside looking in on this one. This young lady is telling me about her date, their plans for dinner, and her dress. I’m in my good listener mode and saying everything I should. At least I think I am. She tells me she is going to get her hair done that afternoon before her date picks her up. She’s quiet for awhile and states: “I just hope my date thinks I’m pretty.” Before I can offer any reassurances to that viewpoint she says, “Mr. ********* I’m so blind, I always look good to myself.” Great way to start a week!!

Second eye opener for some. Big kid. Young, proud African-American male. Kid has mad skills in football. Division I schools are in contact. This kid and I have connected and for that I am grateful. Grateful for my life and my career. Anyway….

Kid knows I got a scholarship back in the day. I want to work with him to define what his expectations are. I want him to think about the end of this year. Not playing ball in college, not a lot of what if’s….. I ask him what the most important thing about the end of this year. No brainer, it’s graduating from high school. We are rolling till he gets still and introspective.

He quickly looks around to make sure nobody is within earshot. Tells me he hasn’t seen his dad since his parents split up when he was 10. Sometimes it helps just to shut up and not fill blanks. A minute or two passes. He says to me, “Do you think my Dad still loves me?” I don’t think of a measured response, I just open my mouth and hope something good happens. “Something about being dad you will understand someday I hope, you never stop loving your child. It starts when you first look into their eyes and feel their touch in your hands. It’s irresistible, like a force of nature.”

He nods his head and some friends enter the room. He is back in a world that holds more comfort and surety. “Catch you later Mr. F”, he says as he exits the room with his buddies.

The day progresses as all do. I am tugged in many directions. I worry about things, relay information, and pretend I’m listening when I’m in the empty box.

I leave school to attend my oldest’s afterschool conference at his school. No worries the kid is rock solid. Whew! As I get closer to my car in the parking lot I notice a ripped piece of notebook paper stuck under my windshield wiper. It’s folded three times. I unfold it and it says in a beautiful two sentence note: Thanks man….