Responsibility what's that?

The other day was one of those days that never seemed to end and in reality I did not finish all of my responsibilities until around nine or so. Teenagers and responsibility, this is so hard to teach. They need to learn how to be responsible for themselves and as a parent sometimes it is hard to let them fail in order to learn this lesson.

As I was visiting my 78 year old parents whom I had not seen in a week because of my crazy schedule I kept getting texts from Tyler. "Mom I forgot my Chemistry book in your classroom!", "Can you go get it?", "Mom I really need it!" and it went on from there. Tyler had to work at six and was trying to get his work done before he went. I texted back, "I am visiting your grandparents I will text you in a bit." After I visited my parents I then sent Tyler a text that said, "you need to be more prepared and it is not my responsibility to get your book." He was upset with me but I told him you both where in such a hurry to leave school that you did not think ahead. You both need to plan better. Ty apologized and I told him I have a lot of errands to run and if at the end I have the energy I will stop by school and get the book. I also told him I will not bail them out again.

After dinner with my husband, a traumatic Walmart trip (I hate that place) and then a stop at my classroom (to get the book) I pulled into the house around eight or so. Then I still had to put up the groceries, and do all those other mom chores we do on a daily basis. I fell into bed absolutely drained. Tyler ended up pulling a late night studying after he got home from work.

It is hard to let your child fail but sometimes they need to in order to wake up. This time I bailed them out and maybe I shouldn't have maybe I should have let them fail. I chose to help but I had a long talk with both of them and told them listen in two years you will be off to college. I will not be there to get you a book. You will be on your own. I also emphasized that next time I will not go get the book and they will need to find their way. To fail? or not to fail? that is the question. Was I wrong in helping? Did they learn their lesson? Will it happen again?

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