It’s not how they act at home. It’s how they act when they’re in public. 

Every parent has heard this — or a version of it anyway — over the years. 

At home, their behavior can leave us feeling anywhere from “I love this human with every inch of my being” to “Where is an asteroid when I need one?”

All that time, we’re left crossing our fingers (and possibly toes, ankles, arms ...) that the rest of the world is getting that first version of them, and really wishing that we’d get to see it. 

Like most parents, I can’t do much about making that happen. For the parents and guardians of Livingston Manor’s male athletes, however, I can do the next best thing. 

I can tell you that all that hard work has been worth it. Out in public, your sons are doing exactly what you hope. 

I know this because I spent two days in the Manor school recently. Arriving at the doorway on day one with my wagon loaded down with photography equipment, I was greeted by a teenage boy opening the doors for me and helping me maneuver the unwieldy wagon inside. 

Looking around to see which adult directed him to help me, I saw none. He saw someone who needed help, and he jumped into action — all on his own. 

My experiences that afternoon and the next were markedly similar. The same late Gen Z/early Gen Alpha teenagers often labeled as demanding, disrespectful, and TikTok-obsessed, saw opportunities to help a fellow human, and they did what was natural to them. 

Were there kids acting a bit unruly at times? Were they loud? A little bit impulsive? 

Absolutely.

Weren’t we all at that stage of life when the brain is still developing, the hormones are raging, and testing limits is an important part of the learning process?

But for all that high energy boundary pushing, there was ample proof that these young men were being raised by people teaching them the values of compassion, consideration, and kindness. 

It turns out that in public, your kids are rather delightful.