Here’s a photo of my 14-year-old practicing Christmas carols on his baritone in front of the fireplace while wearing his basketball referee’s uniform.

He referees third and fourth grade basketball games every weekend, in between playing on the eighth grade basketball team and going to baseball workouts (did I mention that he’s an athlete?).

When I picked him up from the games he reffed, he glanced over at the mom who was handing out snacks to the little players after their game. “I miss those days,” he sighed. “Getting the treat after the game was the best part of the game.”

As we drove home, he was still apparently reminiscing about snacks because he piped up, “I love reffing. Just because it’s so much fun. Plus, I get paid $9 a game. It’s like getting treats after the game, only better. I could buy a whole 12-pack of pop and a lot of bags of chips with nine dollars.”

He reffed again this morning. When I came to pick him up he said, brightly, “Guess what? After both games I reffed, the snack moms gave me treats. I got Oreos and a juice box and then I got crackers and another juice box!”

Thanks, snack moms everywhere, for remembering these young teenage refs with voracious appetites. They appreciate you, even if they don’t tell you so.

My son reminded me of a good lesson as well: You’re never too old for treats!