"Robert, you're being juvenile."

I don't remember which one of them said it. I just remember those words. I remember I didn't say anything more; I knew I couldn't. I knew it was useless to try and convince either of them that even I could have a legitimate opinion.

They were wrong, though. I knew it then and I know it now and nothing they can say will ever convince me otherwise.

It's not juvenile to lament over the death of a family. It's human.

What is juvenile is for a husband and father to run away from his responsibility because he can't live with it anymore. It's juvenile to rationalize to yourself that you're still fulfilling your duty just by checking in once and a while with some late birthday gifts and supporting your family from afar by mailed checks. It's juvenile to think you're the mature one and therefore you have the moral high ground just because you're older than someone else. It's juvenile for someone to use alcohol as the outlet for all of their problems and stress without actually dealing with anyone. It's juvenile to expect those around you to accept your failings and take your problems into their own hands. It's juvenile to allow your own son to clean up the messes you leave behind.

It's juvenile to expect your son to be tough about their parent's divorce. To ignore what your son needs and live your lives as you please. As a parent, to place your own interests above your child's.

It's juvenile to expect that fifteen-year old can understand.

I know I'm right about this.