My son actually called me today

Emotional Wellbeing
1

Small win today

My son called me. Actually called, didn’t just respond to my text with one word answers.

We talked for maybe 8 minutes about his baseball tryouts and this kid Jason who’s apparently a total show-off. Normal dad-son stuff. He even laughed when I told him about the pigeon that’s been terrorizing people outside my building.

It’s been 14 months since we had a real conversation. I kept expecting him to suddenly remember he wasn’t supposed to be talking to me, you know? Like someone would walk in the room and he’d go cold again.

But he didn’t. He just… talked to me like I’m his dad.

I’m trying not to read too much into it but fuck, it felt good. I forgot how much I missed hearing about his day, even the boring parts. Especially the boring parts.

Don’t want to get my hopes up too high but maybe something’s shifting. Maybe.

2

This is so lovely to read. Eight minutes of just being his dad again - that pigeon story sounds perfect for making him laugh.

I haven’t had a proper conversation with my son in over two years now, so I know exactly what you mean about expecting it to suddenly stop. The way you describe the ordinary dad-son chat about baseball and school… that’s everything isn’t it.

Really hope this is the start of something x

3

Oh man, 8 minutes about baseball tryouts and show-off Jason sounds like EVERYTHING right now.

I’m at 18 months since my middle kid talked to me like a normal human being, so I get that feeling of waiting for them to suddenly remember they’re supposed to hate you. The pigeon story getting an actual laugh - that’s huge.

Don’t overthink it but definitely don’t ignore it either. These little cracks in the wall matter.