Mom, Can I...

My son has become close with the kids in my in-laws neighborhood. This is a good thing. He needs friends. What I do not like, however, is the influence that they can be. Sometimes, it is not always positive. However, I see God at work and I enjoy that to the fullest.

The other night, Jake runs in the house and says, "Mom, can I go next door and watch Mike Myers?"

"Mike Myers?", I say, "What do you mean?"

"You know, Mike Myers, Halloween, the guy in the white mask."

"NO!!! That is a terribly scary movie and you will have nightmares!" (Now, mind you, Jake is the oldest of these group of kids and he is only 9. The others are 5, 6, and 7.)

Here, the normal bantering back and forth insues...why can't I? So and so's mom is letting her... It's not that scary...and so on. I finally have it in his head that he cannot and will not watch that movie.

He goes outside to tell the kids that he cannot watch that movie. I am just about to go check on him and see what the alternative plans were when he comes back inside....crying, defeated.

"Mom, I really wanted to go to their house."

"You can go. You just can't watch that movie."

"But that's what they all want to do."

"Then you will have to play with them another time."

"Well, they told me to come in here and tell you we were watching another movie and go watch Mike Myers anyway. But I told them you would come check on me and then I would be in big trouble." :)

"You're exactly right. I would come check on you and you would have been in big trouble. Then, the next time you wanted to play with them, you wouldn't be able to because you would be having punishment."

"Yea, that's what I thought."

"I am proud of you for not lying and coming in here and doing the right thing. That's exactly what Jesus would want you to do."

'Thanks. Do you think the other kids will have nightmares tonight?"

"Yes."

He half smiles as he goes in the other room to watch hi 'mommy approved' shows.