Thread by @tracybeanz

🪡🧵I went to a concert last night with my son - his first ever. It was in Atlanta so I left with him at 8AM to make the drive. Read this thread. I think you’ll enjoy it.

The above picture was us waiting in the hotel parking lot because the room wasn’t ready for check in. The concert started at 8, doors opened at 7. We finally got checked in around 4.

We had a long drive, so I asked him to play his Spotify playlist on the ride across to Atlanta. I got to hear all the music he listens to every day. I was LOVING it. We listened to a full album of the artist we were going to see. He told me his fave songs. We agreed on them - they were mine too.

We stopped and ate a quick lunch. We talked and joked around the entire time. He’s a pretty serious kid most of the time, so when we hit the car again I put on Gangam Style and we danced like idiots and laughed our asses off.

When we finally got in the room, my plan was to take a quick shower. There was no hot water. No shower. He was super apologetic even though it isn’t HIS fault. Instead I got ready without a shower while explaining there’s a reason for everything. Maybe the shower would’ve held us up too long.

And it would’ve. Because when we got there we were only the 30th in line to get in, into a standing room only venue. Because I didn’t shower we left early and it made the night. He led the way. He chose our place, and when he didn’t like where we chose…

He chose a better place. We had a clear sight line and weren’t too much like sardines. We could even sit down on the floor, which we did. You have to understand this about my son - he’s the kindest, shyest, sweetest kid in the ENTIRE world.

He often wears a heavy burden - self imposed. He strives for the best, always, and he’s SUPER hard on himself when he doesn’t meet his standards. It’s not often I see his version of “let loose.”

This is contrary to the fact that I legit BEG him to take it easy on himself. We don’t place goals for him, he places them for himself. I often say you seriously couldn’t build a better kid if you went to heaven and tried.

But that comes with the ups and downs of being a perfectionist. MONTHS ago William came to me and asked if we could go to this concert. I didn’t have the money. But he NEVER asks for anything, so you know what I did? I charged that shit.

The tickets weren’t that expensive, but it’s an overnight trip. I have to tell you something - I would do this 7k times over. The look on this kids face listening in person to his repeat playlist - the jumping up and down to the music. The fist bumping.

The excited glances when his favorite songs came on - the shouting me stories about each one quickly before they started - the look on his face when he got to hear 4 unreleased songs - and, him telling me how the artist seemed like a good person because of his energy. PRICELESS

This was one of the best concerts I have EVER been to. He couldn’t stop talking about it the entire way home. I am SORE AS HELL. My entire body hurts. I’ve got a bad back that’s much better now that I’m carnivore - but an entire day of us on sidewalks and driving sent me over.

I guess it showed on my face though at the end because he said “I’m so sorry you were in so much pain at the end. I kept on looking at you and you looked really sad.” I am SO upset about this. I wasn’t sad. I was just in a ton of pain. I had the TIME OF MY LIFE. I told him so.

We got home and watched all the videos again. We both took showers and he said “I want to do that again.” Yes, William. We will do it again. 1000% we will.

William is a freshman in HS. He took all honors classes and 1 AP class. He took a college AP exam Tuesday. He got straight A’s. He keeps his room neat and clean. He makes his bed, he vacuums. He plays baseball. He owns his own lawn care business.

He’d give you the shirt off his back. I try to MAKE him have more fun. This was fun he wanted - and it was fun he HAD. I will savor every single last moment of this trip for the rest of my life. I’m crying typing this.

For those wondering, we went to see BoyWithUke. Yup. Ukelele. AMAZING. SHOW.

The energy in this room - the energy dude had on stage. Indescribable. For those wondering, yes, he ditched the mask eventually. He always had worn it but did a reveal recently. He’s shy - just like my son. My favorite song was the one he does about God.

Anyway, I guess my point with all of this, is that our kids are young like this ONCE. And I strive every single day to teach them that JOY is the most important thing. LOVE is the most important thing. BEING HAPPY is the most important thing.

And sometimes a little bit of credit card debt is worth every last bit of interest. Because I think we are both forever changed by the fun we had last night. I love you, William. Never change.