Life List Day 131 - Let My Son Stand Up for Me

My son's friend "Kyle" stole my iPod today. I noticed it missing, he'd been the only other person in the house, and he has a bit of a reputation for sticky fingers.

Still, I was shocked to think he'd steal from me. I've fed him...given him rides...two highly valued things to a teenager.

When I saw the iPod missing, I asked Danny, "Do you think Kyle might have taken my iPod?"

I expected a shrug - an "I don't rat on my friends" kind of reaction. To my surprise, he said, "I'm going to kick his ass. He steals from me, but it's not cool to steal from my mom."

"I don't know it's him," I said. "I'm just asking. Maybe I should call him."

He shook his head. "I'll handle it."

"Maybe if I called his parents, and - "

"I've got it. Trust me."

He left soon after, promising he wouldn't resort to 1) violence, 2) retaliation, or 3) false accusations.

An hour later he returned, my iPod in hand. He'd skated to Kyle's house, and when Kyle's stepmom answered the door and said he was sleeping, my son said nonchalantly, "Oh, he borrowed my iPod. I was hoping to get it back."

She told him he was free to go in and retrieve it himself.

So he did, and it was definitely mine. It had all my songs - just minus the skin and a bit of battery power.

Anyway, it was nice letting my son step in and handle things for a change. I'm so used to taking care of myself, I'd forgotten what it's like to have a knight in shining armor.

And, FYI, I debated whether I should tell Kyle's parents anyway (I'd want to know if it were my son), but I know they're already trying really hard with him, just having taken full custody after his mom was thrown in prison...for theft. I couldn't think of anything positive that would come of telling them. His "punishment" is that he's not allowed in our home for a while, a sentence I had my son relay.

I don't know if I handled it right, but this was the first time I can recall that my son went 100% to bat for me. There was no way I was going to do anything to mess with it.