They like me ... they really like me!

Last night I had S's mom come in after I had finished my teen movie night (The Corpse Bride) looking for her son, and when she found out that he had already left with his friends she stayed for 10 minutes telling me how thankful she is for me being such a positive role model in S's life. He hasn't had the easiest time at some of his previous schools (excluding his current one, where he is Mr Popular, but will be leaving for dreaded high school this fall) and really doesn't have that many people he looks up to in his life, so she is really happy that he discovered me. She says he talks about me all the time at home (which makes me happy, because it's great to see a son and mother with a good relationship), and really misses me when I go away for a holiday or am off sick for a couple days. It's at the point where they even consider me a member of their extended family; that's how much he and her both value me. This is possibly the highlight of my year in this job so far - after all, S was the first teen to approach me when I started here a year ago, and has been to see me almost every day since, telling me about accomplishments, sorrows, etc. I even helped him find Shakespeare! Even though it was raining and storming when I left work I had the greatest feeling - it's one thing to have my teen friends visiting me, but another thing entirely to have their parents come and say thanks!