Grocery Store Glimpses

The boys arrived back at our house tonight and we were clearly in need of stocking up on groceries because, well, the boys were back! :-) Now that Jeremy is working as a price checker at the grocery store, he always wants to come when one of us is getting groceries because he is very proud of knowing where everything is as well as allowing us to use his employee discount card. I must add, it comes in quite handy that he knows where everything is, and you won't hear me complaining about the discount card either!

When he came with me tonight, I got a really interesting glimpse into the real life of Jeremy Robichaud. I say that because when children are younger, you know their world. In a lot of ways, parents are the world of pre-school children - for the good or for the bad. As children start school, parents are very involved in the day to day activities of school and are talking to the teachers and supervising homework. Children continue to grow and mature though and as they do, you begin to be a bit separate from their lives - at least their school life.

Sure - you still know them (even though they don't think you do!), but when you ask how their day at school was, you get "okay". When asked what they did at school that day, the reponse is usually "nothing". In essence we only know what they want us to know which, of course, leads us to stew and worry - wanting to make sure that things are really okay in their lives outside the house.

Well, I got a glimpse of that part of Jeremy's life tonight, and it was so great to see! We arrived at the grocery store - the same one that we have gone to for years - but yet somehow it feels like Jeremy's turf now. Before we even got our cart from the cart corral in the parking lot, people were already saying hi to Jeremy. Over and over again different staff were saying hi to Jeremy - calling him by his nick names.... I have to say that it was heartwarming to see how this has become his community.... he was obviously proud to be there and be noticed - it was awesome!

Although parenting (and particularly step-parenting) teenagers can be incredibly challenging and emotionally draining, there are some pretty fabulous moments!

Cathy