The outside will be just fine

?As a child, I absolutely loved being outside, ripping and running with my friends. Honestly, I can still hear the sounds of kids laughing and screaming, bikes zooming down sidewalks, marbles, jacks, games of tag, so on and so forth. You seldom hear that anymore, but back in my day, that fun and more was everywhere.

I loved being outside, but I vividly recall my mother asking me to stay in with her a lot. There was no mention of why and I didn’t protest, throw a fit or disobey – but it was hard. While all the other kids from the neighborhood were within earshot, having the time of their lives, I sat with my mother.

We talked about school and all the things I was learning. If we got hungry, we’d make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches – without the peanut butter, because I didn’t like it. There were only a handful of channels back then and every now and again, we’d luck up and find a cartoon or two to share.

At some point, she’d squeeze me real tight, pat me on the behind, and kiss me on the forehead and release me to childhood. Off I went to the swings, the sandbox, riding a bike, throwing a ball -- doing the fun things kids used to do. I’ll always remember waving goodbye to her as I ran out to join the playful fray – as if you really need to wave goodbye…when you’re only 30 feet away.

Over the years, I’ve thought a lot about those days, those afternoons when everyone else was outside playing, but I was being kept inside. My mother knew something I didn’t. She realized her time was short and wanted to soak up every drop of happiness this side had to offer.

I’m glad I didn’t cry or protest, pout or show any sign of not wanting to be there. Over the years, I figured it out, it took some time, but I figured it out. I came to understand why it meant so much to put off riding my bike so we could talk about school. I figured out why we sat and watched cartoons that even as a child I had absolutely no interest in…but I watched anyway.

Those bikes were going to be rode, those balls were going to be thrown, someone was going to be tagged, and those swings were going to always have a passenger … the outside would be just fine. But as I think back during long runs, walks, drives or just time spent alone, I realize the reason she kept me so close during those days was … because she needed me more…than the outside did.

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Check on your mother today … check … on … your … mother … today. Text her, call her, go see her. Write her a letter, send her a card, take her out to dinner and claim that precious part of life. We spend so much time on the outside, stopping only to love on our mothers when we need her.

Today, put the outside on hold and understand that sometimes…your mother needs you …