That Friday Night Feeling
This Friday, I stayed awake till 12.37 A.M., much past my normal bed time, one eye on the TV screen and the other on the clock. It was the first time I was staying awake to make sure my son got back home from a party. I’m pretty sure it’s not going to be the last.
Just like that it crept up on me. A new phase has begun. I can sense it. Friday nights and what the stood for changed. Again.
Over the years, Fridays have meant many things. That glorious TGIF feeling, friends and breaking free. The burning the midnight oil to get ahead phase, where all that mattered was being one step ahead of the competition every day of the week and weekend, phase. The breaking bread and a few bottles with good friends at someone’s home on a Friday night phase. Different ages. Different stages.
This is the nature of change. One day, you notice something is different. It may have taken a while coming, creeping up on you when you were not paying attention. And then just like that it’s a Friday night and you are not out and about, but your son is.
While I keep an eye on the clock, I know I don’t need to keep an eye on him. I am there if he needs me. He knows that we always have his back and he knows what time he needs to be back home.
Today I have all sorts of technology to help keep track of my son. I can track him on Uber. Ping him on WhatsApp and facetime with him to see where he is. With all this tracking and knowing, the one thing I don’t seem to know are his friends. I know their names and their phone number and their addresses. But I don’t know them. When I was growing up most of my friends knew my family and my family knew them.
Maybe I need to try harder or maybe this is the new normal. I don’t know the answer to that question.
I know I felt excited for my son this Friday. Excited that he was about to embark on a new adventure. I know that I am blessed to have enjoyed so many different Friday night phases of life and I look forward to many more to come.
Well hello, Friday my friend. May we have many more adventures, together.
Red Riding Hood
5 年Good one!
Founder - Cuerate Professional Services Aggregator
5 年Lovely Nik. Glad the not so little anymore guy is out Friday nights.
Sales & Distribution
5 年Nik - Reality well put ! Thanx
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, Tata Steel | Viva Engage Community Champion Finalist 2023
5 年Superb interpretation of a day from two different perspective.
MIT Certified Global Sustainability Consultant I Angel Investor & Innovation Addict To Make The World A Better Place For Current And Future Generations
5 年Welcome to the new phase - our children are smarter they will make the right choices - but try and make that effort to know their friends and families - you will be more at peace ??