My oldest son is probably going to strangle me, but I just have to tell the world. This weekend he took not one, but three girls to the Homecoming dance. I couldn’t be prouder—not because he scored three dates instead of one, and not even because he went to something extracurricular and I didn’t have to make him. No, this teenager gets the golden star for emulating one of the many conversations I’ve had with him about the importance of being a good person.

I don’t think there’s anything more important in life. In my opinion, having perfect grades or even being a star athlete mean very little if you can’t treat others with kindness and compassion. So, I continually tell my children to “look about themselves,” which basically means be aware of those around you no matter what you’re doing.

Now enter a returning cross-country bus ride and those three girls. As my son sat in his seat listening to those girls lament their disappointment at not being asked to Homecoming, he decided to speak up and offer himself as a date for all of them.

When he regaled me the tale I was shocked beyond belief. My introvert son doesn’t like conversing much at all, especially with girls.

My dropped jaw had him putting his hands on his hips. “What, Mom? It was the right thing to do.”

“Yep,” was all I could say. And if he keeps this up, he’ll be quite a man someday.