Monday, August 14, 2006

Parenting is for Life

About five years ago, I was out in the valley doing home visits on the 1st of June. It was the first day of summer vacation, and the sun was out and there was a lovely breeze. When it was time for lunch, I ate quickly and drove out to the Mendenhall Glacier and took a walk.
Because school was out, there were children having a picnic near one of the ponds. They were playing on the beach and wading in the water and swimming about. They were laughing and shouting and splashing and having a wonderful time. Since it was summer, there was a bus load of tourists walking the trails.
I was walking behind three tourists with white hair — two women and a man. As they walked by the pond with the picnicking children, I overheard this conversation:
First woman, "That sure looks like fun."

Second woman, "Honey, if you want to wade, your father and I can wait on this nice warm bench."
First woman, "Mom, I'm too old to wade."
Second woman, "You went wading when we went to Monterey."
First woman, "Mother!" in the tone of an exasperated 13 year old. "We went to Monterey three years ago! I was only 75!"
Man, "Baby Girl, as long as your parents are waiting on the bench, your not too old to wade."

8 comments:

Cherry said...

I hope to someday be able to share moments just like that. Brought a tear to my eye.

Chancy said...

Man, "Baby Girl, as long as your parents are waiting on the bench, your not too old to wade."


So poignant and so true. They remain our children even when they are 75...

Gina said...

Wonderful!

You are definitely never too old to wade.

Autumn's Mom said...

What a lovely moment. Last time we took Autumn to Monterey, she waded. ;)

Uncivil said...

I've never been to Monterey and Mendenhall Glacier sounds a little chilly. But what the heck......let's take a dip!

Anonymous said...

That was a really good story. You should submit that one to Reader Digest. They always have cute stories like that.

kenju said...

This is priceless!

I am reminded of when my uncle died at the age of 62 with a heart attack, his mom (my mother's mom) was in her 80's. She cried so hard, and she kept wailing that God's not supposed to let your children die before you do. I was surprised at her reaction. Of course, I was about 12 at the time, and not yet a mother.

Joy Des Jardins said...

I wish every mother and daughter would get the chance to have that conversation....how beautiful. Thank you. -Joy