The day after Thanksgiving I knew my sister was going out with her MIL, SIL and my niece. A “Ladies Lunch” tradition with other female relatives from the in-law side. My BIL was working. That left my nephew home alone. My sister asked me if I had time to spend with him. Originally, I said no but during the day, I realized how grown up he is, how he wouldn’t be around forever so I decided I to take him to lunch.

Teenagers…when did my nephew become one? He’s almost 15. Typical boy. One word answers. A lot of “um” and “IDK” responses. I even expected him to SAY “IDK”. It took awhile to get him to actually “converse” but it went well.

I knew he was struggling with something and wanted to give him some advice without sounding like a grown-up. I told him a story about something that happened to me when I was 13, something I wish my parents had made a different decision about, something I wish I’d pushed for a little harder. I wasn’t feeling regret per se, but pondering the “what if” question. He really listened…he asked me a question or two…then asked to see my cell phone.

Typical teenager. 17 months ago