Being a parent is so hard to do. Wondering if you’re making the right choices for your children is something we all worry about, but it is what it is and we can’t worry forever.
I have run into a difficult choice to make recently. I hate it when that happens, but I’m sure as my boys get older, those choices will become more difficult and will probably come more frequently.
The difficult choice I have to make comes with my oldest son this time. He recently got a job washing dishes at a local restaurant. Now we’ve put restrictions on the hours he can work and then due to his age, the state has also put restrictions on him.
The problem occurred when the new schedule came out and he was scheduled to work from 11 am to 5 pm on Sunday and 7 am to 2 pm the following Sunday. Our son specifically told them he wanted Wednesday night and Sunday morning off for church. So far Wednesday’s haven’t been a problem, but Sunday has been.
We have told our son to communicate with the manager to make sure they know how we feel about him working on Sunday’s. He explained to them we have church and he can work after 1 pm. They told him he would have to work these two shifts, but it wouldn’t happen again. We told him that would be fine.
The difficult decision may come when the next schedule comes out. If he’s scheduled on Wednesday night or Sunday morning do we let him try to handle it, but insist they change the schedule or do we call and complain and require the change?
I’ve been told we have the right to call, but I’m sure our son will have a problem with that and will assure us he’ll take care of it. Allowing your 15 year old to try and handle the problem is difficult, but I need to remember I can’t baby him forever. He needs to be able to learn how to make decisions and handle things on his own, but it’s sure is hard to do.
I’m learning as he gets older that certain things I used to do when he was a child are things I can’t do anymore. He’s old enough to do things on his own, no matter how difficult it is. He’s not a baby or a child anymore, but it’s so hard to do.
I guess I’ll cross this bridge when it comes, but it will be hard to do. I know God will guide us through this situation and by making sure our son is in church will help the situation. In the mean time, I’ll continue to pray for the knowledge and encouragement from God to make the right decisions.
