Back to school shopping
One mom's adventure
In a bustling mall, there is a middle-aged mom dressed in white pants and a black top. Her mom bun is sleeker today and unintentionally classy. All of her facial features are balanced, yet she could easily blend into the crowd.
She is one of many moms going about the annual migration to the malls and big box stores that’s known as back-to-school shopping. Scanning the mall, she thinks about how much things have changed, yet stayed the same.
Teen girls swarm around her, wearing ripped jeans and cut off shirts that flaunts their taut stomachs of youth. She is not envious. She was once them, so long ago.
She waits off to the side, as her teen pays for his purchase. Growing up. Lump in throat.
She is a mom on the sidelines now. It is not about her. It hasn’t been for years. She knows she has become one of those respectable suburban moms. That’s how she is seen, at least for today.
Being a mother is gift, she thinks as they wander through even more stores. She remembers Maryann. Her heart drops and it’s hard to breathe. Maryann won’t be school shopping year. She won’t be there as her son enters his junior year of high school. She won’t get to see her son graduate and go out into the world. Her son will move through life without her physically by his side. She is an angel above.
“I'm sorry Maryann” she almost whispers to the crowded mall.
Changing seasons are a gift. Something her friend doesn’t get to experience anymore, and so many others never will. She blinks back tears glistening in her dark eyes.
She follows her teen through the mall. She’s so happy for this time together. Her heart feels like its bursting through her chest as she feels gratitude for this moment. This precious time that is fleeting.
She reminds herself to savor these times, of driving the mom Uber and school shopping. It’s all changing so fast. These moments never last as long as you want.
You wish that they could.
Wasn't she just 17?
Our kids range from 22 to 32 in age. Back-to-school shopping hasn't been the same for a long time. It's been shopping for things for an apartment. The kids haven't liked us going clothes shopping with them for years. I'm not sure when I started dressing like a dad, but it happened. :-)
Will still have e mall, but we rarely go there anymore. Still seems pretty when we go by!