A Smack Upside the Head

Have you seen the photos and video footage that have gone viral in the past couple of days, about the Baltimore mom who dragged her teenage son off, away from the area where protests, violence, and vandalism have been taking place? A single mom of six children, she was interviewed afterwards and, personally, I was impressed by her eloquent, rational, heartfelt views and the effort she’s making to keep her son safe.

For some reason, I’ve been thinking about that mom a lot. Even more so, I’ve been thinking about her son. I know absolutely nothing about either of them – whether they are good people or not, if the images that have been circulated are an anomaly, what their family life is like. But if given the opportunity, my message to her would be short and sweet: Keep up the good work, fight the good fight, and I’m praying for you and your kids.

My message to her son, however, would be a bit more. Son, I have no idea who you are and what kind of young man you are. I’m sure that at some point that day, you may have been feeling a bit bold, not caring about appearing on television or in print since you must have been aware that cameras from all over the country, if not the world, are focused on Baltimore right now. I’m also pretty sure that the last thing you expected was to be thrust into the spotlight because – of all reasons! – your MOM came running after you to chase your butt home and totally blew your cool.

But you know what? Take this as your opportunity. You’ve got a whole country who is cheering on your mom for caring enough to take action, embarrass you in public, and haul you away from danger. By association, that means they are also cheering you on, too. You have a choice between becoming another anonymous face in an angry crowd, covered up by a hoodie – or making something of yourself and proving that your mother’s anger and worry are not going to waste. My greatest hope is that years from now, I will open a newspaper or turn on the news and see a story about you, reporting on something wonderful and worthwhile that you’ve done and the fine adult you turned out to be, and that the reporter will remind us all that you were once that teenager on the streets of Baltimore whose mom came after him so that she would not end up mourning him.

I know that some may disagree, but sometimes, it’s necessary to get a smack upside the head. Seeing the news night after night and watching what’s going on in society today, here in our country and abroad, I often think that the whole world needs a smack upside the head. You just got yours, son – literally as well as figuratively. Don’t waste it.

Mother’s Day is approaching. Make your mom proud.