My Other Son - Terrance

I have been blessed to have a second son both by choosing to bring him into our family and the fact that he has lived with us on and off the last 4 years. So every time I see Terrance I never know what tidbit he will share and whether it is an internet half-truth or something that has real meaning and a ‘kick to it’. Terrance is usually very up, bouncing around and singing or whistling. So I have had so much have fun watching him grow up over the last few years.

This last week as we are driving around he proceeds to share a story; this is actually real and not some apocryphal internet story. Terrance’s mom usually has a live-in boyfriend that is typically unemployed and more concerned about their next beer or playing PS3 than anything else. They usually are on disability and don’t have to do much besides mooch off of Terrance’s mom.

So Terrance tells me that Foster, mom’s friend, quickly tells him that he and his friends live for the day. He explains that this means all he is concerned about is where he will get his next beer. Anything he does revolves around finding the means to get the next 6-pack or tall malt liquor. Terrance would be the first to say that out of all of his mom’s boyfriends this one is great because he actually cleans up around the house and cook meals. Yet, the reality is that Foster’s present life is totally focused on getting his next beer. He never seems concerned about being inebriated while riding his bike or being on a City Bus.

Here’s the great part of this story. Foster proceeds to now switch gears and talk about how Terrance is different than him and his friends. He quickly acknowledges that Terrance lives for the future. He has a plan, is going to college and cares about finding a job. All of a sudden as Terrance is sharing this story I could see the proverbial light go on inside his head. I know that Terrance usually doesn’t view himself as being the successful type and struggles with whether he will finish school, get a real job and be able to marry his beloved Toniel. Yet, from the perspective of Foster, Terrance is a huge success.

My point in writing this is to agree with Foster and echo that Terrance is on the right path and does have a future mindedness about him. It is possible for Terrance to be a little quicker in making his future happen but that is when I try to fit my second son into my box. Yet, Terrance has rocked the world of Foster, Daniel and others who have been around his mom over the years. Terrance is doing something awesome with his life instead of living for the next beer.

Yes, I am proud of my second son who has finished his first A.A. degree at South Mountain and will start on his second in the arena of IT. I know that it might take longer than the year plus but that doesn’t matter because Terrance will have set a goal and will accomplish it. He is a great example to the Fosters in this world who need to follow in his footsteps!