My older son, Max, stood at the window, peering through the blinds into our backyard, but he didn’t seem eager to join his friends. His homework was complete, and he had the whole afternoon to play before dinner—yet the soccer match was rolling on without him.
“Aren’t you going outside?” I asked.
He turned away from the sliding glass door and shook his head. “No,” he replied. “Not today. I just don’t feel like it.”
That was odd. Max typically loves outdoor play. I suspected I knew the reason for his reluctance.
“Is it about the Nerf gun thing?” I inquired.
He nodded, a hint of hesitation in his expression.
“Kind of,” he admitted, while his gaze drifted back to the kids outside. He wanted to join them, but he was stuck in the safety of our home, gazing out from behind the blinds.