Mother's pride

On Tuesday Theo brought his friend-who-is-a-girl home from school. At some point Jonathan overheard Jaz begging Theo to go to the school disco which was last night. But he refused point blank. Then Jonathan had a go at him about going, which made Theo dig his heels in even further. He had apparently also refused to go to 4 discos last year which we knew nothing about.

(This may seem strange but we really wanted Theo to go because we both went to schools were we lived nowhere near our school friends and there was no opportunity to socialise with them, When considering our kids schooling this was one of the major issues we had, that they would live in the area where they went to school, near their school friends.)

I didn't know any of this until yesterday lunch time. I bet Jonathan I could get him to go willingly. Jonathan didn't seem too convinced, but I knew I'd manage it. I started my campaign with a text message to which I receievd the reply 'not gonna go'. So I sent him a huge text telling him how important it was to mix socially with his school friends, how they would stop inviting him along, eventually, if he constantly turned them down etc etc.... 'leave me alone'. Ok.

When he came home from school I continued on the same tack, and, like a salesman who truly believes in his product, I repeated my sales pitch about socialising, being known as someone who didn't join in etc etc and finished with 'by the time they're all off to the pub, your name won't even be mentioned when the 'gang' are organising a night out'.

'Ok, if it'll shut you up I'll go'

I pointed out that I wasn't forcing him to go, but, although it might well be crap, if you go with the right attitude you will virtually always find something to enjoy, I thought he would enjoy it, but if the worst came to the worst and it was unbearably awful all he had to do was ring me and I'd pick him up.

Well, it was like someone had flicked a switch. He (sweetly) asked if his new jeans were washed, he disappeared into the bathroom for ages and re-appeared looking fabulous and smelling great - hell he'd even cleaned his teeth - and my Cinderella was ready for the ball.

When I dropped him off all he said was 'fuck - look how many are going' . And being the good mum that I am (when the mood takes me) I didn't kiss or lick him, I discreetly squeezed his hand and wished him a great time.

I was 20 minutes early to collect him, so he could find me easily, he piled into the car and told me what a fabulous time he had had and how he couldn't wait for the next one. Then he just said 'Thanks mum'

I squeezed his hand again, then looked away as I drove off so he couldn't see his silly old mum crying.