Star of the Moment
Discovering my son has become the "trusted adult."
My son got an award at work today-
"Star of the Moment" it's called.
He listened when a girl at the school
said she was scared for her friend.
"She has bruises,"
she told him,
and convinced her friend to show him.
"We need to talk to someone else,"
he said;
"we need to make sure you're okay."
"Are you okay?"
"I'm scared,"
she answered.
"I don't want to get in trouble."
He assured her she wasn't in trouble
and thanked her for talking to him,
and he walked with her to the office.
He stayed as long as he was allowed
and told her friend
"thank you for telling me."
And when the principal asked the girls
what it was that allowed them to talk to him
(to my son)
they told her they trusted him.
"He's our trusted adult,"
they said.
And when he told me about it
I could tell he felt the weight of that trust
and the weight of her words
and the weight of her fear.
So I hugged him
and thanked him for telling me
and sat with him and listened
and told him how grateful I am
for the person he is.
And as much as I love the recognition for him
and as much as I know it's not about that,
I have to admit
(I said this part to myself)
"Star of the moment"
seems a bit of an understatement
to me.
About the Creator
F Cade Swanson
Queer dad from Virginia now living and writing in the Pacific Northwest. Dad poems, sad poems, stories about life. Follow me on insta at @fcadeswanson
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If this is how sobriety feels, maybe it’s better to go through life a little buzzed… this, along with other hits like, I want to kill myself, I wish I was dead, and I’m going to throw myself off a bridge have been the only thoughts on rotation these past few days. I promise myself that if, in a month, I still feel like this (‘this’ meaning despondent, full of rage, and simultaneously numb) I can go back to smoking. Until mid-February though? Nicotine is off the table.
By sleepy drafts5 days ago in Longevity
Comments (22)
Wonderful story
'Moment' really is the wrong word. More likely, 'Month' or 'Year'. Great story, sir! And your son is a good man!
Wow. Such a wonderful story. Lovely poem. Congrats on top story.
Really Osm..
Star material for a star story
Congratulations on your top story.
Bravo for your son!! I loved this poem and what a friend he is and a safe mentor. You can wear your pride of it for all to see. Congratulations on the Top Story🎉🥳🤩
I read this twice. In one: your son is a boy. In the other he is a teacher. Somehow both fit. Wonderful
His actions have made a profound difference in those girls' lives and reflect the depth of his character. "Star of the Moment" indeed feels understated for someone who has shown such integrity and empathy
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Wow, what a beautiful story told in a poem! Huge congrats on your fantastic achievement! 🎉
I'm really impressed by this story!
You should be very proud of your son, he is a star indeed.
Congratulations on Top Story
This is wonderful. He's a star indeed. Congrats on the TS.
Congrats on your top story.
Very nice poem. You should be very proud of your son.
Very heartwarming story. Thanks for sharing. Congratulations on Top Story !!!!
stunning reflection. ya'll are doing the right things. from empowering your son to be kind, soft, and empathetic. a trusted friend. to supporting him as he navigates this emotional responsibility. a star always 💙 bravo.
Your love for your son is paying forward, Cade! Thanks for sharing such a wonderful story with us!
Cade! I have tears and imagine every single feeling you had of pride, joy and love. You sparked a memory: on a field trip to the big city Gothenburg nearest us in Sweden in 5th grade she passed a man sitting on the street asking for money and threw in all of her lunch money and ticket to the museum for the day. When the group got to McDonald's for lunch she had nothing to eat. Her teacher asked why (knowing she loved her nuggies and fries) and she told him what happened. The other students laughed but she got a whole lot of fries from friends that day and a whole lot of hugs from me when she came home. Such a beautiful story you shared!
What a great way to start my day. And your son? I agree. Star of the moment does not do him justice. Compassionate; someone who listens; someone who takes action; trusted. He sounds like a wonderful kid. As a parent, I expect you feel gratified with the way he dealt with it but also sad that he had to take it on at all and carry that now.
He’s a bright star, period. How heavy yet beautiful.