From age 6 to about age 18, whenever I blew out my birthday candles, I wished to make the Olympic team. Statistically speaking, I got ‘closer than most’ and made it to Olympic Trials and one World Trials.
But never the team.
There are many parents that win gold medals, others win major awards, eg Oscars, Emmys etc. And those are wonderful and something to bring a sense of accomplishment or pride in. Nothing wrong with that.
For me, at this age, my gold medal is my son. And no, that’s not weird or living vicariously through him. We’ve journeyed together through lush lands and desert seasons 16 years now. We know what we’ve been through. This is my reward and it’s been harder and far more rewarding than any athletic training for me.
I took him back to the LA Zoo where we’re still members. 16 year old boys don’t often get enthralled about the zoo anymore. Yet, he was a good sport and indulged his mom this day.
We ate soft ice cream and a warm pretzel dipped in fake but tasty cheese.
We watched the elephants, as we did when he was little. I always pause more there. He likes the reptiles and the fox and finds animals that are rare and not the popular viewings.
Sometimes it doesn’t have to be some overly planned outing or some major event. It meant a lot to me as his mom. He could tell.
As he approaches 18, I’m more nostalgic than ever. I have loved being his mom — it’s been the biggest blessing in my life next to my spiritual journey.
He’s a good kid and patient. He allowed me to linger and lecture about the specialness of elephants — he’s heard it for years.
As elephants visit the bones of their families, I trust he’ll remember his ancestors.
Fashion Stories & Dirty Laundry 