Once, I was a High School Senior. Now, I am a Parent to One.

Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

1971

Abstract

e that we argue over. But I imagine that’s a good thing.</p><h2 id="d68e">Momma’s Boy — I mean, Baby</h2><p id="6ec9">My wife is the <i>‘doting mother.’</i> Chad is 6'3" 220, and while I have him in the weight department, he is taller than I am. And he is my wife’s <i>little baby</i>. I mean she really baby’s him. It’s incredibly obvious and for a person on the outside looking in, one might think, “Um, he’s a little big to be all up-under her.” It took me a while to get used to it. But we were all growing together as we blended and strengthened our family bonds.</p><p id="3ffc">Nevertheless, Chad is a sweetheart. He has always respected me as his Pops and he is growing into a fine young man.</p><h2 id="7b91">I was quite a different story when I was his age.</h2><p id="b37e">My first day as a senior, I was expelled from high school. The principal demanded that I leave school grounds immediately, and I say that with emphasis. He also demanded that I never return. Of course, I knew I could not go home and tell my mother that I had been expelled on my first day of my last year of high school, so I returned to school the next day. On the final bell of the day, after sneaking through all my classes, and exiting the boys’ bathroom once I finished my last cigarette, thinking I would make a mad dash to the bus, the principal came out of his office at the same time that I came out of mine. “YOU!” He shouted. “Get over here!”</p><p id="1164">To make a long story short so I can get to the point, he told me that he had three boys my age and he should have dealt with the situation better. I told him I had only returned to school that day to apologize to him for the language I used that had got me expelled. He accepted me back to school, but he still suspended me for three days. It was a rough first week as a senior.</p><p id="e5b4">Chad, on the other hand, has never had those experiences. He is soft spoken, all his teachers love him and he is truly a d

Options

ecent human being. He just oversleeps and rarely turns in his homework. It’s very frustrating that we are called in to parents conferences and the like, because this has been occurring throughout his entire high school experience, not just as a senior.</p><p id="3af2">While we are a little frazzled because he oversleeps and doesn’t do his homework, Chad isn’t belligerent with teachers and principals. We are grateful to have raised such a fine young man.</p><p id="1b52">When I ponder about when I was in school and compare it to today, I think, “Wow, what a difference 40 years makes.”</p><h2 id="51df">About the author</h2><p id="4486">Julius Evans has a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, Newport, RI; a Master of Arts degree in Strategic Communication and Leadership from Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ; a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from City University, Bellevue, WA and an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from Central Texas College, Killeen, Texas.</p><p id="40b2">Read every story from Julius Evans (and thousands of other writers on Medium). Your membership fee directly supports Julius Evans and other writers you read. You’ll also get full access to every story on Medium.</p><div id="f1c1" class="link-block"> <a href="https://medium.com/@juliusevans/membership"> <div> <div> <h2>Join Medium with my referral link — Julius Evans</h2> <div><h3>As a Medium member, a portion of your membership fee goes to writers you read, and you get full access to every story…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*tyIa0xL_CpcmZtip)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

Once, I was a High School Senior. Now, I am a Parent to One.

Forty-one years ago, I was a senior too. Things were much different then — especially the people. Namely, me!

Teen son and father. Photo by Any Lane from Pexels.

I can honestly say that I am not proud of some of the things I did when I was in high school. As I recall the past, I have to shake my head at my behavior. Times were much different then and in fact, America was much different, suffice to say, but that gave me no right to carry-on as I did. The Lord was truly watching over me. For it was only through God’s grace that I sit here today and am able to write to you, my loyal audience.

So let me share with you the story of my son, who happens to be a senior now. I have been blessed with an incredible kid. I sometimes wonder what’s wrong with him, but I will shed a little light on that later in this article. To protect his identity, I will change his name to Chad.

Chad was 10-years-old when he came into my life. I met his mother in a mall in sunny Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and we had a whirlwind courtship. We married well within the first year after meeting and have shared eight years of marital bliss — for the most part. We have certainly had our challenges, but mostly only over two things; Chad — and maybe me not allowing her to move things around in the house the way she wants to. Honestly, I’m drawing a blank as to the second issue that we argue over. But I imagine that’s a good thing.

Momma’s Boy — I mean, Baby

My wife is the ‘doting mother.’ Chad is 6'3" 220, and while I have him in the weight department, he is taller than I am. And he is my wife’s little baby. I mean she really baby’s him. It’s incredibly obvious and for a person on the outside looking in, one might think, “Um, he’s a little big to be all up-under her.” It took me a while to get used to it. But we were all growing together as we blended and strengthened our family bonds.

Nevertheless, Chad is a sweetheart. He has always respected me as his Pops and he is growing into a fine young man.

I was quite a different story when I was his age.

My first day as a senior, I was expelled from high school. The principal demanded that I leave school grounds immediately, and I say that with emphasis. He also demanded that I never return. Of course, I knew I could not go home and tell my mother that I had been expelled on my first day of my last year of high school, so I returned to school the next day. On the final bell of the day, after sneaking through all my classes, and exiting the boys’ bathroom once I finished my last cigarette, thinking I would make a mad dash to the bus, the principal came out of his office at the same time that I came out of mine. “YOU!” He shouted. “Get over here!”

To make a long story short so I can get to the point, he told me that he had three boys my age and he should have dealt with the situation better. I told him I had only returned to school that day to apologize to him for the language I used that had got me expelled. He accepted me back to school, but he still suspended me for three days. It was a rough first week as a senior.

Chad, on the other hand, has never had those experiences. He is soft spoken, all his teachers love him and he is truly a decent human being. He just oversleeps and rarely turns in his homework. It’s very frustrating that we are called in to parents conferences and the like, because this has been occurring throughout his entire high school experience, not just as a senior.

While we are a little frazzled because he oversleeps and doesn’t do his homework, Chad isn’t belligerent with teachers and principals. We are grateful to have raised such a fine young man.

When I ponder about when I was in school and compare it to today, I think, “Wow, what a difference 40 years makes.”

About the author

Julius Evans has a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, Newport, RI; a Master of Arts degree in Strategic Communication and Leadership from Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ; a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from City University, Bellevue, WA and an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from Central Texas College, Killeen, Texas.

Read every story from Julius Evans (and thousands of other writers on Medium). Your membership fee directly supports Julius Evans and other writers you read. You’ll also get full access to every story on Medium.