OK, I guess I’m gonna talk about this until I finally run out of steam..

From the article I linked the other day there is this little bit about living after letting go of the illusion that we control everything:

We stop trying to control others, and focus instead on being kind to them.

Obviously a broad statement, but it came to mind today. My son is struggling with school, with life in general; and this morning he called me at work to ask me to pick him up as he didn’t feel well. He said the nurse told him he was well enough to go to class. I told him to stick with it.

He called back 30 minutes later, more urgent. Said please, again.

I faced a choice – do I make him stay, or do I pick him up and take him home? That’s why this quote came to mind. Do I choose the control option (which was my first reaction) and make him stay in class for the afternoon, or do I just say ok, he’s been struggling, give him the benefit of the doubt and maybe he really is sick, let him go home and rest instead.

I went to the school to talk to him. He didn’t know I was coming, since on the phone I told him he had to try and make it. I watched from the hallway and he looked like he was about to fall asleep, in the front row of the classroom while the teacher talked five feet away.

I decided to take him home for the afternoon, let him sleep, and we’d have a fresh start tomorrow. As I write this he is snoring on the couch. Time will tell if I chose well or poorly.