The kids are on spring break now, so they didn’t have school on Monday. We all slept in a little extra, but not much. When I entered the kitchen, I found Luca sitting at the table, staring at nothing.
“You ate already?” I asked.
He jumped, startled by my presence. Whatever he mulled over was quite serious.
“Oh…yeah,” he said.
I continued eating, hoping he would share whatever plagued him. But he continued staring at the wall.
“What’s got you so perplexed over there, bud?”
He sighed. “I was just…thinking. I don’t know what I’m gonna do after my birthday.”
Gosh. He sounds just like me during the week of my birthday.
“I see. Is anyone pressuring you to figure it out right now?”
“No. Not really. It’s just… My teachers and the guidance counselor are all talking about university and scholarships and careers like they expect us to have it together already.”
I chuckled. “Son, you’re not going to have it together for a long time, and that’s okay. That’s just how life works. No one ages up and immediately has a great job, big house, a family, and whatever else people think you’re supposed to have when you ‘make it.’ I don’t have any expectations, okay? You won’t feel any pressure from me. I’ll support whatever you want to do. You want to do university? I got you. Want to get your own place? I’ll help you. Want to stay here? Cool!”
“Thanks, Mama. I’ll stay here for a bit. Until I figure it out.”
I pat him on the shoulder. “You stay here as long as you want. I mean that. I love you, Luca.”
I think I embarrassed him a little, but he’ll be okay.
“You don’t have any ideas about what you’d like to do?”
He shook his head.
“What about yoga? I think you’d make a great instructor.”
“Really?”
He sounded surprised, though I’m not sure why. People love him. He’s so chill and clearly has a passion for it. Of course he’d be a great instructor.
“Do they even make money?” he asked.
“Oh yes. Those classes are very expensive. And even if you only did it on SimTube, you could still make money. But, Luca, take it from who has experienced both sides. I don’t want you to get caught up in chasing money. You should do something that brings you fulfillment and joy. Trust me when I say that is a million times better than a big salary. Sure, you might not be able to live how you want, but you’ll sleep peacefully at night with no regrets.”
A cheeky smile grew across his face, and I braced myself for whatever was about to come out of his mouth.
“So like, if I make 50 simoleons a week and can’t afford to live on my own, and I get married and have nine children, you’re saying you’d be cool with all of us living here…forever?”
“Oh, so now you’re a funny man?”
“I meeeeeeean, you said you’ll help me, and I could stay as long as I wanted.”
“Hmph. I did, didn’t I.”
All jokes aside, I know he’s challenging my love for him. I think he knows I’m still his number one fan but isn’t sure about the I’ll do anything for you part. I will do everything for him. Even if it means playing grandma/nanny to his fictitious nine children. Oy. I want him to give me some grandbabies one day, but I’m not sure I could handle that many. Let’s hope he’s joking about that.
