Lyric: Mom, can we talk for a second?
Bailey: Of course Lyreebabe. You nervous about the Starlights tomorrow?
Lyric: No… a little. l… I’m nervous about a bunch of things.
Bailey: Uh oh. Sit. Tell me.
Lyric: (deep breath) So you know how you’ve been asking me if everything is ok and I just said yes but that’s not true because everything is kinda a lot and I’ve been keeping things from you and I didn’t want you to be mad and stressed so I just held it in and I-
Bailey: Lyric. Baby breathe. Start again. Slowly.
Lyric: (another deep breath) I have a boyfriend.
Bailey: A boyfriend?? Who??
Lyric: Zaire.
Bailey: Ohhh the boy who used to be annoying and then you started texting 24-7.
Lyric: Yeah.
Bailey: Is he also the amazing basketball player whose name you said you didn’t know?
Lyric: I- yes.
Bailey: And how long has this been going on?
Lyric: Not that long. I mean we’ve been talking for a while but he asked me to be his girlfriend on Love Day.
Bailey: Love Day. That sounds serious Lyree.
Lyric: I like him a lot. I promise we’re not doing anything crazy. We just see each other at school and we kiss that’s it. We did have one kinda date after Scouts.
Bailey: (brain. short. circuiting)
Lyric: Are you mad?
Bailey: I… I think I’m more hurt than mad. Clearly you like this boy. I mean you kissed him, made it official and didn’t tell me anything.
Lyric: I’m sorry Mom. I wanted to tell you but you said no to dating and I didn’t want to lose him before we had a chance for real.
Bailey: Lyree…
Bailey: I don’t understand why you felt you had to hide it from me. We promised we wouldn’t have that kind of relationship.
Lyric: I didn’t mean to. At first I was just scared about getting in trouble and then so much started happening on top of that. I was trying to show you I could handle everything. But I started feeling bad about not talking to you and then I didn’t know how.
Bailey: Baby, when I say you can always come and talk to me I mean it. I’m here for the fun convos and especially the difficult ones. You never have to handle things on your own.
Lyric: But you’re dealing with a lot and I didn’t want to add to it.
Bailey: Whatever I’m dealing with is me and your Dad’s job to worry about. All I need you to do is focus on school and keep slaying the new things you’re exploring. I don’t want you ever stressing over my drama and definitely not these musty boys.
Lyric: He’s not like them. He smells really good Mom.
Bailey: Oh my sprung babygirl... My point is any boy right now is just supposed to be the cherry on top in your life, not the main dish. Like an accessory. The extra piece of jewelry to your fresh off the runway fit.
Lyric: Omggg
Bailey: Ok serious Mom Voice. You’re growing up but you’re not grown yet. Following the rules we set up and working with us when you feel like you want more freedom is what actually shows us you’re maturing and we can trust you.
Lyric: l get it.
Bailey: And for the record, I might be disappointed in some of your choices, but I’m proud of the decision you made today to come to me.
Bailey: I love you.
Lyric: l love you too.
Bailey: I want to meet Mr Zaire. ASAP.
Lyric: Ok.
Bailey: And we need to tell your father…
Lyric: Do we have to?
Bailey: Girl. You not gonna have both of us in trouble! I don’t play with my husband like that. No Ma’am. I got your back though. We’ll do it together.