Something Positive

Raising teenagers is a bit like herding ducks. Just when you think you have them going in the right direction one slips out or flies the coop. A wise man once told me that in every teenager there is a 4 year old and a 30 year old and the trick to communicating with them is to know which one you are talking to at any given time. If you are talking to the 30 year old you can use reason and logic and show consequence of action and they will listen and learn. If you are talking to the 4 year old you might as well just tell them what to do, how to do it and when to do it. No reason is required other than I said so, as they will not listen to reason anyway.

Recently I showed my elder teen an ad in the paper for a part time sports reporter for the local weekly rag. Knowing that he has an interest in journalism and loves sports I thought it might be a cool opportunity for him. Now sometimes I would have beaten him over the head with it and bugged him to follow up on it but this time I simply mentioned the ad and never said another word about it. Knowing that he already had a job at the local market I really didn't think he would follow up on it. Well surprise surprise!! I guess I happened to catch the 30 year old at that moment and with no prodding or pushing he made the call and set himself up with an interview for the job.

Now I am the proud parent of a part time sports reporter for a local weekly paper. He covers the local high school sports teams currently basketball and indoor track. He went to the interview, got the job and they even sent him home with about $2000 worth of camera equipment. Not only is he doing something more in line with where his interests lie but he got a raise in the process. He has already had a couple of pictures published.

The irony is that I have spent 30 or so years as an armature photographer and even toyed with the idea of trying to make a living at it someday. My son who has never really had an interest in photography has already made money by taking pictures and I have never made a dime. Funny how life works.

Anyway this has been a cool thing to happen in the midst of everything else going in my world. Being a parent has its ups and downs but this is definitely an up. Good job AJ!!