Take It From Me

Never Grow Up

"I feel like I'm going to puke." Sutton said as we parked the car at the school. It was audition day and Sutton had been a ball of nerves all week. She decided to pursue auditions in theatre arts and piano, seeing as singing was her strongest skill she already possessed.

"You are going to do amazing," I looked at her and placed my hands on her shoulders, "I have all the faith in the world that you are going to do your best. And that's all you can ask of yourself. I'm proud you applied here and are going through this process." I handed her the envelope with all of her audition information, kissed her forehead and she headed into the gallery while I waited in the school cafe. I sat on my phone, reading emails and catching up on writing when I heard two girls whispering.

"I think that's Jenna Hayes."

"She's too old to come to school here."

"Don't be an idiot Lizzie, she has a daughter. Maybe Jenna will be a teacher." I had to laugh to myself before turning around.

"I'm not eavesdropping, but my daughter has her auditions today." I turned back around the girls gasped.

"I told you Lizzie."

J: At auditions, catching up on emails. Girls writing retreat in Florida with Rae Lynn and a few others, March 1-4 - could I get away for that?

H: have Sutton call me when she's done! Should be fine - I signed up for a charity golf tournament, end of April, I was thinking of having the boys join me. It's in Atlanta.

J: will do & that sounds great.

I RSVP'ed to the writing group and spent some time playing on my phone when I heard Sutton call me.

"Hey mom," she was smiling, "one down, one to go."

"Excellent, how was it?"

"Terrifying but once I started playing I kinda got lost in the music." Sutton was required to play two selections of music and she chose a classical piano piece as well as Wanted. "They wanted to hear one more song so I did mine." My jaw dropped, "I figured how to play it on the piano and I included the lyrics in my application package."

"I am so incredibly proud of you." I hugged her and we strolled around the campus until her next audition that was in an hours time. The theatre audition came and went, and I had an extremely happy and hungry teenager. "How about I treat you to a Starbucks?"

"Ooh can I have a salted caramel hot chocolate?"

"Sure thing, love." We hit the drive through before getting the boys from school. They asked all about the auditions, and were extremely supportive of Sutton.

"You could be famous without going to school," Beckett said, "like mom and dad know people." I rolled my eyes under my sunglasses.

"Beck, not cool buddy. You can't ask for favours like that. I think it's a good choice your sister is making. You and Easton both have amazing voices, it's not too late to learn how to play an instrument."

"The drums?" He laughed.

"Ask your dad." We got home and jumped into homework as Hunter came home. Our routine was pretty comfortable, and while I was distributing laundry before bed, Easton caught me off guard with a question.

"Mom, you and dad have been married a long time, does that mean consent is implied?"

"Come again?" I asked putting the laundry basket down, confused.

"Like to kiss or have sex." I was stunned by my eleven year old son.

"Is this something that is being talked about at school? Like consent and sex?" He nodded, seemingly unfazed. "Well, yes your dad and I have some kind of implied consent to kiss or hug."

"But what about.."

"You're eleven. And your dad is going to have that talk with you soon enough." I hugged him, "Don't rush growing up babe."

I picked up the hamper before heading across the hall to our room. "Hunter!" I called.

"Yeah babe," he came from the bathroom, "what's wrong?" I just told him what Easton asked me, and after having a good laugh, he apologized. "I'm sorry I totally forgot to tell you that I signed that form. Yes, his class is talking about human development and healthy relationships."

"Well that clears things up." I slid a few items into the drawers, "I nominate you to have the sex talk with our sons." His eyes grew wide.

"Yeah, I knew I would at some point in time." He flopped back on the bed. I laid beside him.

"The best part was that he was totally comfortable asking if we consent to each other to have sex."

Hunter face-palmed. "He's a quiet kind of confident."

"If anything, I hope our boys grow up to be exactly like you. Sweet, kind, thoughtful and supportive."

"Thanks sweetheart. You make it easy to be all those things." He rolled toward me, pulling me in close for a kiss. He paused and pulled back, "Do I have your consent to keep kissing you?"

I laughed, playfully swatting him before answering, "Of course. I'm all yours."