Shaved about 5 years off my life today. . .

This boy. Lord, please give me strength.

As we were leaving the house to meet Katie's bus, I stopped at the mailbox (which is right by the front door) to grab the mail. I opened the van door remotely so Jonathan could get in the van. I got the mail and turned to see him heading past the door, down the driveway. I yelled "STOP RIGHT NOW" and he turned, looked right at me, then turned back and kept on running down the driveway toward the street. Right into the path of a vehicle that I saw turning onto our street out of the corner of my eye. I dropped everything and sprinted down the driveway in no less than four steps to get him before he ran out into the street. In what can only be categorized as a complete synthesis of miracles, Jonathan stopped right as his little feet hit the asphalt, and a split second later I grabbed the hood of his coat, and the vehicle coming around the corner was driven by our neighbor Joyce, who saw him running down the driveway and slowed down to stop.

The feeling--the feeling of complete and total helplessness as the impending horror unfolded--was terrifying. He has never, ever pulled a stunt like that before. We had a nice little chat about running in the street. I am hopeful that he has learned his lesson.

I know I have certainly learned a lesson about trusting that he will do what he is told. He has always been such a compliant, sweet kiddo. His behavior the last two days has been out of character, so I know he is totally testing limits.

I'm definitely going to have to be pulling out my A game everyday with this one . . .