From the Ground Up

Time

"Hunter, Jenna, we couldn't ask you to give up your home for us." Lynette smiled over the kitchen table. Hunter and I decided we would finally bring it up with his parents about building on Belle Meade for them.

"We really appreciate your efforts. I know you have our best interests at heart but please know we are content with the retirement condo." Leo turned to Lynette, "I guess now is as good a time as any to tell you we have updated our will and we both wrote letters to our doctor should we ever become too ill to speak for ourselves, our doctor knows we wrote these with a whole mind." Lynette reached in her purse and slid the white envelope on the table.
"This is a copy for you. This isn't an easy conversation, and I know Jenna that you saw it unfold with your mom." I nodded as she went on, "To put it simply, we both decided on DNR's, no artificial supports and no tube feed."

"I completely respect your decisions guys," Hunter took a breath, "but I want you to think about it, think about the kids."

"We love how you've been such a big part of their lives." I added, smiling through the heavy topic of conversation. We wrapped up the serious part of our conversation as the kids bounded through the door.

"Hi grandma, hi grandpa," Beckett smiled as all the kids made their rounds and hellos, "are you staying for supper?"

"Not tonight sweetheart," Lynette hugged him, "there's bingo tonight. But we will see you this weekend." The kids were content and began their home work. The evening winded down with Hunter going out for rehearsal for an up coming gig while I caught up on some writing.

"You're more than a symphony
More than the highest note could ever reach
Whenever you speak
You're more than a melody
More than a hundred notes in harmony
Singing to me"

"That's really pretty mom," Easton said quietly outside of my door, "do you have a minute?"

"Always sweetheart," I smiled and closed my book, "come here." I pat the edge of my bed.

"Thanks," he sighed, "I had a question. Dad isn't home but it's about what we are learning at school... bodies and stuff." I nodded, "you see, we had a presenter in... I think she was a nurse or something. She brought in a banana and a rubber thing and showed us how to put it in on... she called it a condom?" He looked uncertain. "Do I need those?"

The mom inside of me was fluttering but I knew he trusted me a lot to bring this to me and not Hunt, "So, I think what the nurse was trying to show your class was how to practice safe sex, and prevent infections by wearing a condom." I took a breath and Easton nodded, registering my words, "so you don't need to be concerned unless you're going to be intimate with someone."

"I don't like anyone... I don't want to do that."

"In my opinion, you're too young. It's a big responsibility to want to do that with someone and like every action, having sex has consequences." He tilted his head, "If a man and woman had unprotected sex, they could make a baby. That's a lot of responsibility." Easton began to look horrified and I took it as my cue to deconstruct the conversation a bit. "Easton, you're thirteen, I'm really happy you brought your questions to me. I think you're too young to worry about having sex. You're still a kid."

"I definitely feel too young." He sighed, his brown eyes looked everywhere in the room but mine.
"Is that all that was on your mind?" I asked quietly, hoping I didn't overwhelm him.
"Yeah I think so. For now anyway." He smiled awkwardly before standing up. "Thanks mom."