my son - who continually excuses his forgotten homework on a dysfunctional and under-developed frontal lobe - came home the other day and announced he was turning over a new leaf.  (perhaps it was that day’s recess detention . . . ?)

he said he was changing his ways.  becoming different.  the kid who leaves his books at school, forgets his homework and sneaks in another hour of video games, is a kid of the past.  though he admitted he won’t be perfect, and at times he’ll need reminding - he promised to be working towards (gasp) becoming a responsible student.

that was friday.  i figured over the weekend he would come to his prepubescent senses and forget his pledge, sliding back into not-so-old ways.  but this morning, he woke up early, packed his book bag with the late work of last week, and renewed his commitment.  

and he makes me remember that i too can change any time i feel like it.

make a promise to be better.  less judgmental.  more forgiving.  rather than excusing my less than desirable traits to variables outside my control - i too can change my ways whenever i want.

i too might slip up, but let it not keep me from trying.  i too might need reminding, but lest you lose faith in me, be patient.  and every morning, i can renew my commitment towards becoming the person i want to be.

our life stories are not yet written.  the text changes continually.  and while we cannot go back and rewrite the beginning, or even the page before today’s, the next words and chapters are ours to develop.  

this monday’s mantra comes from my son, billy:  if you don’t like something - change it.

so simple, it took a 13 year old to point this out to me.  thanks billy!