I have raised a man

As I have discussed on multiple occasions, I have some long working hours. This week is particularly long due to not having a day off.

Add to this that my oldest son has expressed interest in joining the Marines. I remember when he graduated high school he expressed the same idea. He is now almost 24 years old. I respect his wishes. I believe the military is honorable. I do see the danger but I respect him as a man and thus I respect his decisions. His father on the other hand does not...

His father wants me to talk him out of it. HA! that is the son of my loins, there is no talking him out of anything! He is his mother's son. He is headstrong, committed and determined. I could not ask for better. I did speak with his father tonight...

I do not often speak with my oldest son's father. And this week I have been playing a sort of phone tag with his father. As my hours are long, and most people are asleep when I am awake, it makes it difficult to touch base, but we finally did.

I could hear the panic in his father's voice. I do not feel that same panic. I feel more pride and confidence than that. I believe in my son. He is a man, no longer a boy that needs constant supervision. He is a man. Period. I cannot talk him out of anything. I can support him and encourage him. I will still worry, there is no doubt. But I would worry more if he were idle, with no direction. Of course the military is dangerous. But my son has been working in the oil fields, the 5th most dangerous job in the world! I prefer serious training and a future if he insists on dangerous jobs. Evidently, he likes danger.

I never thought it was possible to be at a point in my life that I would support a son of mine to enlist. Maybe this is what it feels like to trust your children. After all of those teenage years of not trusting, this is trusting. I trust his decisions now. It feels good to know I have raised a man.