Lunchables

I wish I could go back in time and tell my 10-year old self to stop complaining about not having a lunchable for the big field trip, and let him know that I will have more lunchables than I know what to do with in college.

I wish I could go back in time and tell Young Justin a lot. I wish I could tell him that everything is going to be okay.

I wish I could tell him when he was in 5^th grade, to not go to school the day that his “girlfriend” broke up with him next to The Kissing Tree in front of her two other friends. I wish I could tell him that wouldn’t be the worse break up, and to be grateful you don’t know what a broken heart is.

I wish I could tell him that him and his mom will get along wonderfully when he grows up. I wish I could tell him that life happens and to not be so bitter toward his father.

I wish I could tell him that by the time he was a sophomore in high school he would have more than 3 friends. That he would have more friends than he knows what to do with. I wish I could go back in time and tell him that everyone will still love him when he comes out of the closet. It sure would have saved a lot of fearful and tearful nights.

Another thing I wish, and possibly the biggest, I wish I could tell Young Justin that mom was right.

“College will be a great experience.”

“You will find out who your real friends are.”

“You will survive this break up.”

“You will find out who you really are.”

“You will regret saying you hated me that one time you stayed out past curfew and I grounded you.”

I wish that all I had to worry about now, was whether or not I had a lunchable on the big field trip, or some homemade lunch. Now I have to worry about an apartment next year, finals, homework, a job, personal issues, sick members of the family, and anything that decides to fall into my lap after a perfectly normal day.

Yup, everyone. Our parents were right when it came to the life lessons. They have been through it all. I think they are a little insensitive to it when we are teenagers, but we are dramatic. It’s how we work. Young people who read this, your parents are right. Get used to it, and shut up! They are there to help you (most of the time). Sometimes they need to be told what’s what, but for the most part just wait… You will see how right they really were, and how dumb YOU really were.