By Fr.Jonathan Filkins 

Jimmy, knowing well his mother’s interfering habits, raced furiously through the house, after quickly dropping off his school backpack in his room.

Slowed down only by the necessity of changing from his school uniform into shorts, flip-flops and a Saints football shirt, he believed his escape path was clear.

Peering gingerly around the corner of his bedroom door, Jimmy heard only the quiet silence of the house. No one was about, or so he believed. Tip-toeing down the hall, the floorboards telegraphed the progress of the youth’s progress. As his hand reached for the doorknob, the stillness was broken. “Where do you think YOU are going?!” came the startling question from the kitchen.

It really was no use to protest the question, or the reality that he had been caught trying to escape without it. “Aww…mom! Why is it that you always need to know this? I’m almost twelve and nearly a man! Besides, don’t you trust me?”

“Well, son, we have had much of this conversation before,” replied Angie, Jimmy’s mom. “In case you did not hear me, the many times before, here is what I will tell you again. First, I love you.

This means that I am concerned about how you are growing up, the decisions you make, the people you are with, and what kind of man you are to become. Secondly, this love means that your parents will be a part of your life, no matter how old and where you are. It may seem like a curse, but you are stuck with it.”

“Someday, and this day has not yet come, your father and I will let you know when you have become a man.

Your age has very little to do with it, as being an adult comes from inside, not with the passage of time alone.”

Angie continued, “Lastly, we need to work on this ‘trust thing.’ You believe that I should trust you, right?” Sensing an opportunity, the son fired away, “Yes!” He was soon disappointed. “Of course, you do, and this is how this works: everything you do, such as chores, homework, dealing with your sisters and brothers and, most especially dealing with your parents, is done well and honestly.”

“If you have any doubts about it being the right way to go, then it is probably not. Listen to that little voice you hear between your ears.” It is the voice of your parents and it could be God.

“Now, where were you going?” asked Angie. Quickly noting the past-tense of the question, and hanging onto the “God” reference, the now reticent boy replied, “I was going to hook-up with Chase and Karl.

We wanted to just hang-out at their house.”

“Not a bad plan, but you have to ask me first, and then get approval,” as the conversation continued.

“It is a bit like lying, this not asking. I’ll give you points for telling me what you planned to do, and trust that this is the truth.”

“OK, so here is the drill: While I know you would like to be with your friends, this afternoon you and I will make dinner together and then you can write a paragraph about honest behavior afterward. Got it?”