Nailing Jello to a Tree

I'm a nervous wreck tonight. My cute sweet little kids that were nervous being away from me even for a short spell have discovered what it is like to strike out and challenge the boundaries of teenage independence. Abate has several friends that have older siblings that drive their own cars. With summertime here they are the ones chauffeuring the kids around. The thought of him riding in cars with teens at the wheel just sends volts of panic coursing through my body. I try to trust and hope that these kids are careful and safe when driving around with a car full of someone else's kids. But yet I remember being a teen, distractions, the opposite sex, showing off, inexperience. Ohhh I think I feel my body going numb.
Today Abate with 4 of his friends and an 18 year old at the wheel went to Midway (near Waco) to play football in a 7 on 7 league. It's now 9:20 and they are still in Waco, eating dinner before heading back. Driving home in the dark on a highway. Ohhhh someone get the oxygen. I know I won't sleep until I know he's back in town safe. He won't be home though as he is staying the night at one of the boy's house. I think the room is spinning here...... ugh.
Fantu is also off for the night. She's been staying the night with her friend Ayanna some lately. Ayanna has 5 brothers. She is the middle child. She needs female company. They are all very nice. A lovely family. But all those boys - oh a mom can still worry.
Abate just called - he thinks he'll come home tonight after all. I think the spinning is slowing down. At least for a minute. All I need to do to speed it up is to think about all the afternoons Fantu spends down at the city pool. Boys hanging out there just to watch the girls... My pretty girl in her swimsuit NOOOooooo! I think I may have to build a pool in my backyard and put up a 10 foot high fence. Would that calm my fears? Probably not. I guess all this is why they say that raising teenagers is like nailing jello to a tree.