This is pretty much the picture of parenthood. From the minute they learn to crawl, our children are always moving away from us. And that is a good thing. We want them to grow and learn and, well, leave. (Have I mentioned we love our empty nest?)
But, here is another thing about parenthood: It never ends. No matter how independent and successful our children become, it only takes one set-back to bring us running. Last week, we ran to Kansas City when one of our daughter had surgery. She is a grown woman with a husband, a job, three kids, a house, and a literary agent.
None of that mattered in the moment, though. She was just our girl.
So there I sat in the ICU waiting room. A grandmother of twelve with a husband, a job, a house, and a novel coming out this year. And do you know what I did?
I called my mother.
If you still have small children clinging to your legs and tracking you down in the bathroom, I hope you take comfort in this: They will grow up and give your life back.
But, don’t worry, they will need you forever.
I needed this today Kathy. Thank you.
You are most welcome.
Thank you for writing this. Jaron is almost nine. He use to be my boy and now his dad seems to be his hero and sometimes I am just a girl…which is not nearly as interesting.
Valerie, one day my daughter-in-law was worrying that her toddler would soon ignore her and want to do nothing but follow his father’s every footstep. “Don’t worry,” Joseph told her. “Boys always need their mothers.”