Twas a Good Night

I was on something of an emotional high driving home tonight.

I've always liked driving in the dark. The traffic is minimal, but moving; the dashboard and traffic lights glow and music fills the car. Shockingly, Shane was still awake in his seat even though it was already 9:00 PM. He melted onto me when I pulled him out of the car and carried him up to bed. 

I suppose Shane was on an emotional high, as well. He went to Jarrod's house today while I had Back To School Night. I let Jarrod in on a little secret (after he teased me about the Redskins losing and the Cowboys winning): Shane loves to watch garbage trucks on YouTube. Jarrod and Shane played around the house with the dogs and at the neighborhood playground until it got close to Shane's normal bedtime. Then Jarrod put Shane in front of a computer and made his week! Shane was still watching when I arrived to pick him up. Jarrod's mother returned home from a grocery run at the same time I did and insisted that Shane should have a bite or two of ice cream before he went home. She scooped him up and held him close for a couple of minutes before she let me have my son back. If her fiancee isn't careful Shane may cause her to want more kids!

What can I say? I have a lovable boy. Shane may butt heads and try to battle with me, but he's a charmer to everyone else! I love when people gush over him. Undeserved fatherly pride swells up and I can't help but smile. 

It means even more to me when it's people I care about who do the gushing and my tutor family certainly counts. They have a manic, excitable energy that reminds me of my own family growing up (large families are fun!).

Shane having a good time and being loved on helped make my night, but it wasn't the only reason I was on cloud nine. I had a few "small world" moments throughout the day. Several of my old students stop by to chat with me during the school day, and I bumped into a set of parents from six years ago that immediately recognized me. I bumped into several other parents of old students of mine throughout the night. They were all smiles and I got to feel like I made a difference. One of my boys from a few years ago even wrestled! I doubt I had much of an influence on that, but I usually say something about "if you really want to test yourself in high school..." every year. 

It was a good night.

Where was mommy during all this? Tonight was Genevieve's bachelorette party. Carrie RSVP'd before school started, so we didn't put two and two together that my back to school night was at the same time. That's why we had to have a babysitter pinch hit. I'm sure she's having a blast, and that's yet another reason to put me in a good mood. I'm looking forward to hearing how things went when we settle down for some much needed sleep.