My Mom Became the Child

And all it took was an uncomfortable road trip.

Author Photo

Funny, the things you learn on road trips.

Growing up, Mom could do anything.

She drove us three kids to sports practices and sat through music lessons. She hunted down school supplies and tracked down shoe salesmen.

In elementary school, she worked as a crossing guard. She stopped traffic and had no qualms confronting reckless drivers if it meant protecting children in the road.

She hung up her reflective vest and sign stop after my younger sister moved on to middle school. I didn’t think much of it then, but looking back I’m pretty sure she took the job because she wanted to be closer to her kids. Mom did something similar with her grandkids, as she took a position in their Montessori building. Perhaps the death of her dad before she reached teenage years has something to do with remaining close.

All I know is, as a kid, Mom could do anything. She could stand up to anything.

She was my everything.

But the legend of parenthood deteriorates with every passing year, as does their aura of invulnerability. Their weaknesses are exposed. As a parent, they had to be strong. I suppose even the strongest individuals can only remain impenetrable for so…