Parental Snub

It Happened and I was not ready for it. Where have I been? Did I know this day was coming or was I thinking, "This would not happen to me."

Yesterday was the last day at school for Stephen and Rebekah. The school celebrated this day with a family chapel, an awards ceremony and then a family picnic.

Jennifer and I were early for the event so we waited outside the chapel. We saw all the kids walking from their school to the chapel as they reminded me of swarming locust devouring everything in sight. Within minutes, the students were piling into the chapel.

This is where it happened! As Stephen was walking toward the chapel we locked eyes and I said excitedly, "Hey Stephen!" I got nothing. No, "Hi Dad" no high five, no hug.

What I did get was a polite waving of the hand nonchalantly.

I laughed to myself and realized he was with his friends and he is turning 13 in less than a month. I was not ready for this, but it happened. I was the recipient of the parental snub.

My kids are growing up and I feel like I am the last one to get the memo.

The day turned out great, Stephen and I had fun later playing b-ball with his coach and the rest of the kids. But, for a brief moment in time I felt the empty gut feeling every parent has felt at one time or another as their kids mature.