The Parable of the Razor

I have a story to tell.....one of those where you could say "I told you so"......but that's not nice! Nor is it something a 15-year-old teenage boy wants to hear from his mother. So...it has not been said. Instead I am contemplating how I can turn the tables and have a lesson learned. Or better yet an open mind that includes listening to your parents without rolling your eyes.

Kevin is a typical teenager. Every Friday and Saturday night is spent "hanging with your friends" basically doing nothing. Kevin is teetering between being too young to drive and date (but wanting to) and being too old to stay home and spend his time with the "Fam." A difficult age, for sure. However, he is quite obedient after he has voiced his loud opinion.

He is my last child at home and I am "overly" protective and watchful. In our neighborhood there is a huge group of kids his age. Generally they are good kids. Kevin has a definite group of friends who are always together. Here's the story.....

Last week Kevin and his friends were "hanging out" all day Saturday. Going from place to place trying to find something to do. Evidently they have a friend who is a bit older who has his license. This licensed driver was with them on Saturday and had access to a car to drive Kevin and his friends where they needed to go. When Kevin asked if he could go with this driver I said NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! First of all, I don't know this boy, 2nd....he is a new driver, 3rd..... Does he even know how to drive, 4th..... there is a law in AZ about how many un-related kids can drive in a car with a new driver, 5th......It was just out of the question!

So the story goes.....whenever Kevin's friends decided to go somewhere else....Max or I would go pick up Kevin and take him to the next destination.....yeah, I know we are geeks but read on.
Kevin was surprisingly obedient. This is the funniest thing. At one point Kevin called me and said...."You can't believe what I am doing" "I am riding a dang razor to Rosa's to eat with my friends because I couldn't get in the car with them"....then he hung up! I was on the grass outside laughing so hard. It was one of those razors that you have to push with one leg to go. And yes, it was freaking hot outside! For a moment I felt sorry for him but Hey, he's a kid.

On Sunday I started to re-think my position. Kevin's friends are starting to drive and ultimately he will have to start riding with them at some point. Hmmmm what to do. I will have to think about this.

Fast forward to this weekend. Hanging out again on Saturday with the same friends. The licensed driver was not around this weekend. I volunteered to be the driver and picked Kevin and his friends up several times to take them where they wanted to go. I was grateful we did not have the same problem this weekend. I am totally willing to take them wherever they want to go. And I do make myself available. Well last night Kevin and his friends had talked about going to a girl's party to watch a movie outside. I had no problem with that. Kevin had been gone most of the day and early in the evening Max said, "I hope Kevin will come home early tonight" "Will you call him and ask him to" I said..."No, you call him and just ask him"
Well, it wasn't done. Then, an hour or so later Max said again...."I want Kevin to come home early tonight I am going to call him" So he did......he suggested to Kevin that he come home an hour or so early. But did not say he had to. Of course, Kevin announces his opinion, never saying yes or no. About half an hour later...Scot calls Kevin and says come home and watch the ASU came with me. (Keep in mind this is never the case.....Kevin NEVER comes home early!) Max and Scot did not know that each of them had called Kevin separately to come home early.

Well, about 9:00 Kevin comes strolling in the door...my first words are "What are you doing home so early?" He says "I don't know....guess I will watch the game with you guys" Shockaroo! I didn't know all this calling had gone on myself.

What's the point you wonder????? On the way home from the party all of Kevin's friends got in a car accident. They were in a car with a newly licensed driver (not the same boy as last week) and he ran a stop sign. Another car T-boned them. Two of Kevin's friends were injured and taken to the hospital....the others were found to be okay. Luckily, no one was seriously injured.....but I about DIED! Kevin would have definitely been in that car.

The funny thing is that McCall was the one to call and tell Kevin about the accident.....thanks girlie girl. Beau doesn't waste a minute! He was one of the boys injured. Anyway....I have goosebumps. I feel like Max was so impressed to make the call and ask Kevin to come home early. I hope Kevin had that little voice in his head telling him to listen-up. He was protected....I am glad nobody was seriously injured and I hope something good comes from this experience.

The moral of this story it....Obedience bring blessings. Riding a razor was never so good!