As a mom, there's nothing harder than watching your kid make a stupid choice with hard, sad consequences.  There's nothing you want to do more than turn back the clock and stop them from doing it.  You wish more than anything you could just hug them and fix it all...but you can't. 
You have to stand there and be serious and tough and lay out the penalties and negative consequences of their mistake when, really, you love them so much you'll forgive anything and all you want to do is make them feel better.
You have to stand there and tell this child, whom you love more than anything in this world and who could never do anything that would make you love him less, that he's disappointed you, that he's damaged the trust in your relationship and you don't feel you can fully count on him to do what's right at this point.

You have to stand there with your arms at your sides when you'd give anything to be able to wrap him up and just hold him like when he was little, you have to hear the anger and defiance in his voice while looking at him and see that his body language is screaming that he really wants you to do just that,  hold him and just make it go away.

But you can't.

Because this is his moment of reality.
This is a turning point for him...continue on this path or choose a new one, and he's gotta walk it. 
This is where he starts to build the man he will one day be.  And no matter what you want for him, you can't make him want it too.  He has to want it.  He has to discover his potential, his goals and he has to learn that only he can realize them. 

In the end all you can do is stand there, arms and heart open wide for him, giving unquestionable love, without strings or conditions, giving support and advice.  But that's all...its everything you've got to give and you pray its enough, but in the end...
All you can do is stand there.