I’ve had many exchanges over the years where my statement about something was taken as surprise at the event rather than what it was — which is anger over human inaction facing it.
Having worked 1.75 teenage males through the household over the last dozen years this has often been a thing one or the other has done that is so colossally moronic, amoral or both, I often go slack-jawed in apprehending it. Then everyone else goes slack responding to it.
Boys will be boys …
No or partly yes or who cares?
Boys will be jerks
is closer, but again — no, yes, so what?
The point is: what do we do now?
I’m not expressing shock. I want to know what will hurt enough in the way he conducts himself that it won’t happen again. Sometimes there is nothing. But every time we say boys will be boys there certainly will be nothing. It’s the beginning of the conversation not the end.
What I’m looking for is a response, even a solution.
I’m not surprised by the moment.
I want the next one.