Family Values

Jacob:  Mom, can I talk to you, I have a problem.

Me:  Sure, honey, what's up?  (Expecting anything at all...you just never know what's going to follow.)

Jacob:  That new boy at school.  He's making me uncomfortable, he's pretty fast.  I don't even know his last initial and he's already inviting me to spend the night...I mean, I don't even know him.  I'm afraid though if I tell him he's moving too fast and I want him to slow down it will hurt his feelings.

Me:  Yeah, you're right, it's too fast and it might hurt his feelings to say that.  You can always blame things on me, just tell him there's no way your mom will let you do that.  That you're not even going to be allowed to play at his house until I know more about him and know him better.  Don't worry sweetheart, it's true, there's no way I would let that happen.

Jacob:  Thanks.  I mean, I've never even spent the night at _______'s house, and we're really good friends.  I need to get to know him better, much better.

Me:  Yup, no problem.  It's not going to happen.

Jacob:  Thanks, Mom

It's so nice when your kids know your values, respect your values, depend  on your values.  Hopefully this little boy will turn out to be a great kid and a good friend.  At this point however, all we know is that he's being raised in a home with very different rules and values (not just illustrated by this conversation, there are other things), and slow's definitely going to be the name of the game.  It was a nice reminder how much my kids count on Mark and I to have their back.