Tonight I am sitting on the back patio as the last light fades from the sky, talking with the oldest (he’s home!) about politics and life.  I’m loving it.  We do not agree on many fronts and he definitely challenges me on my beliefs, but this is what I have raised him to do.  I want him to come to his own opinions.  Tonight when he challenged me on a point and then went on to say “I researched a lot of these events” it pleased me so.  I’m okay for him to come to his own opinions, but I am thrilled if he has facts and research to back it up.  And, believe me, I will challenge him on any fact I believe not to be legit.

One of my best friends in high school would argue with me all the time about current events and headlines.  And she would ALWAYS spout off facts and figures to me.  So the phrase “Site your source” became one of my favorites.  Even at 17 years old, I would challenge her to site her source.  My son gets no easy A here either.  If he wants to make an argument, he better site his source and it better be legitimate.

These are the times I will always remember.  These are the nights where my boy is transforming into a man.  I want to always hear his voice, I want to always hear his opinion, I want to always know his heart.  And as his laugh lights up the. night, I am smiling and breathing xxoo