Now before you start balking at me for being sensitive, just think about it and give you mom a huge hug when you go home next. She will love it.
Back Home.The first day of kindergarten he hurried to the door, shrugging off his mother's hugs. He didn't need them anymore. For he was all grown up now, too big for all that stuff. Instead he waved a quick goodbye, hoping that would be enough.
When he came home from school that day she asked what he had done. He handed her a paper with a big round yellow sun. A picture quite imperfect, for he'd messed up here and there. But, she didn't seem to notice, or she didn't seem to care.
The first day of junior high he hurried to the door, running from his mother's hugs. He didn't want them anymore. He ignored her calling out to him, as he hurried down the street; near the intersection where his friends had planned to meet. He hoped that she would understand why he had to walk to school. Riding with his mother just wouldn't have been cool.
The first day of senior high she hurried to the door, jumped into the driver's sear of his jacked-up shiny Ford. He left without his breakfast, he left without a word, but he turned and looked back before pulling to the curb. He saw her waving frantically as he drove away, he tapped on his horn just once to brighten up her day. He saw a smile cross her face, and then drove from sight. ONward to a different world, a new exciting life.
Suitcases filled the trunk of his dirty beat-up Ford, he couldn't wait to get to school to check out his room and dorm. She opened up his car door, and closed it when he got in. Then smiled proudly at her son, as tears dropped from her chin :-( She reached through the open window and wished him good luck in school. And then she pulled him close to her, and broke the "NO HUG" rule. He felt the freedom greet him as he pulled from the interstate. At last his life was his alone, he anticipated fate.
College life was more challenging than he had ever hoped. There was no time to respond to letters that his mother often wrote. He was a grown adult now, too old for all that stuff. His visits during holiday, would have to be enough. Besides, midterms were quickly coming. The pressure was immense. He studied late into the night, his need to pass intense.
As if he had a calling, he headed down the interstate. Driving at full speed, the hour getting late. He pulled to the curb, where he once used to roam, and went through the open door of his mother's home. She was sitting at the table with a drawing in a frame. Memories from the past that brought both joy and pain. She didn't need to ask why he was home from school, because she knew the answer when he broke the "NO HUG" rule. His arms around her tightly, peering at the drawing her had done. Lots of tres, imperfect branches, and a big round yellow sun. She smiled a knowing smile, and then spoke aloud, "Son you always did know how to make a mother proud. For look how far you've traveled from that little boy so brave. Heading off to kindergarten your hand in a wave, and through the years you've made mistakes but son, I've made them too. Being perfect is not an option in life. Simply do the best you can do. And don't expect more than that, for life is supposed to be fun. You've only got one life to live, do what is best for you son."
Sitting in his dorm room, when the pressure seems too much, and all that he is striving for seems completely out of touch. He peers at the drawing of a big round yellow sun, and then he is reminded of just how far he's come. From childhood to manhood fighting many a fear. Through trials and tribulations holding back many a tear. Knowing that being successful isn't passing every test, and the only way to falter in life si by failing to do your best.
But, the biggest lesson he's learned, one he did not learn in school... That it's okay, for even a man, to break the "NO HUG" rule.