Last Friday, Devin brought home his school backpack, full of books and homework.
For some reason, he left it near bags that were being packed into the car for a weekend at the cabin.
Sunday evening, I had to remind him to make sure it got packed back into the car to come back from the cabin.
It is a school holiday today, so he figured he would do his homework now.
Devin: Dad, where did you put my backpack?
Rich: I have no idea. I wasn’t responsible for your backpack. Where did you put it?
After much going back and forth about responsibility, problem solving, snowy mountain roads, etc… Devin figured out that it inadvertently got packed in a friend’s car and was only a few miles away.
It is windy and cold, and pouring rain today. I am driving Devin to get his backpack. I am dressed warmly. I notice Devin shivering in his seat, and fiddling with the heater vents. He is wearing shorts and a T-shirt.
Mom: Why aren’t you wearing a jacket?
Devin: Because it’s in the dryer.
Mom: Why didn’t you wear a different jacket?
Devin: Is this a trick question?
Mom: No.
Devin: What do you mean?
Mom: Why didn’t you wear a different jacket?
Devin: Oh. I forgot. It’s OK. I’m tough and I can take it.
I am not tough, and I cannot take it. I am taking a Xanax and going back to bed.
I was in So. Cal for a few days and I wore shorts, but I also wore a sweatshirt. I was hoping for 70s when I packed only shorts to wear. At least I had a sweatshirt since it was in the 20s when I left Green Bay. I hate jackets, but I do wear a sweatshirt most of the winter. 🙂