Today, I witnessed something. Shocking. Amazing. Enlightening. So many emotions were tied to this one event. These two second grade boys started fighting. Punches were thrown and wrestling on the ground was had. The teacher ran to separate them, but couldn’t do it alone. This high school boy who was helping at the outdoor event stepped in immediately. He was somewhere between 16 and 18. He spoke to that young boy like he was a parent.
“You don’t hit people.”
The kid continued to struggle while the high schooler had him in a bear hug to try and calm him down. Then the young boy took a swing at the high schooler. Immediately, again, he responded like a parent himself. He knew it was his duty to be an example to this young boy.
“You don’t want to hit me. That’s not allowed. You need to calm down. Let’s get some space.”
He was stern but not mean. He was caring, but forceful.
It only dawned on me the reality of what happened after I looked down at my son. That mom and dad had to have put a lot of time and effort into that high schooler. I’m sure he wasn’t the easiest to parent. Always saying “no” or “I want this” or “that’s not fair.” I’m sure he fought back, pouted, cried, threw tantrums. All the things that in my current era of young children seem like they will never pay off. And things I say on repeat 24/7.
But those parents had to have had the same feeling 12 years ago when that high schooler was young. “Am what I am doing really going to pay off?” “Is my son going to be a good human?” “Will he make a difference?” All the questions I currently ask myself. And you know what, today I witnessed what all that hard, tough, agonizing parenting turns into. Man does it suck now, but it pays off 100 times when they get older.
And if that mom could have seen her son today, man I’m sure she would be proud. I’m proud just to have witnessed such an amazing human.
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