Make Good Choices

For as long as I can remember, my mother always sent me on my way with these words of advice:

"Have fun. Be careful. Make good choices."

No matter where I was going, these were the words she left with me.  Simple, sound words of advice that I always took for granted and sometimes laughed at.  The 'have fun' and 'be careful' parts always seemed simple enough.  It was the 'make good choices' part that always got me.  What the heck was a 'good' choice?? And was I in any real position to actually make them?  I guess I have made it this far so I made a few right decisions, though there have been many questionable decisions along the way.

Now recently my mother has decided I need some new advice.  As my mother has observed, I am happy.  And yes mom, you are right I am.  I have plenty to be happy about - an amazing family, the coolest son ever, just finished a degree, and the most incredible friends I could ever ask for.  Other than that pesky job thing, life is pretty friggin fantastic.  And here is my mother's worry about my happiness: she doesn't want any man to ruin it.  Reasonable worry I suppose, except I have no plans of giving a man that much power to my happiness any time soon, or even ever for that matter.  I'm in charge of my own happiness right?

Then my mother proceeded to give me the best advice.  She said, and I quote:


"I'd rather you use them, then they use you."

I. was. speechless.   In fact, weeks later I'm still a little taken aback by this forward advice from my mother.  But I will say, it's nice to know she does approve of me using boys, just the kind of validation I've always wanted.

So now when my mother says:

"Have fun.
Be careful.
Make good choices."

This is what my brain hears:

"Have Fun.
Wrap It Up.
Hit it and quit it."