Having recently experienced the holidays of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, we’ve all thought deeply about our parents or caregivers. Rich, poor, or in-between, without our parents and caregivers none of us would be here.  For sure.  I don’t mean just biologically.  I mean spiritually, morally, and physically.  For the most part, our parents/caregivers made us toe the line.  They kept us clean, safe, and warm.  They nurtured us as if we were their lion cubs.  Just don’t let anyone or anything stand between us babies and our parents or there would be hell to pay.  They would lay down their lives for us.

As we grew from dependent infants, who couldn’t even hold our dainty heads up without their cradling us in their soft arms, into toddlers who tested their patience as we managed to find new cabinet doors and drawers to get into to our teenage years when we might’ve told them to leave us alone because we already knew what we were doing.  Our parents stood behind us, sometimes in silence, allowing us to explore within the boundaries they had set.  When we flew the coop and left high school for trades or college, they sat home wondering what we were up to.  Some parents experienced the “empty nest syndrome” never saying anything aloud to us but sitting at home marveling at how empty and silent their homes now were since we weren’t there for them to look after anymore.  Maybe they threw themselves into work or volunteerism to fill the hours that they did not have to care for us any longer.  Maybe they just coped as best they could.  We were the center of their universe and now, we were gone.

Perhaps at holidays or birthdays, we came back home to celebrate with them.  The sparkle in their eyes when they saw us couldn’t be missed.  The joy they expressed at seeing us home again was certainly unmistakable.  They loved being our caregivers once again if only for a day or a weekend.  When we left after the festivities ended, they appeared wistful and solemn.  Most likely thinking how silent the house would become once more.  They couldn’t wait to answer the door when we arrived again.

Suddenly, on one of our visits back home, we might have noticed that mom or dad weren’t moving as fast as they used to and now it was our turn to cook the big holiday meal and take care of the cleanup afterwards.  They might be a little more forgetful but they always had a big smile for us and their carefree laughs were still there.  It was time for us to be their protectors now and to assume the roles they had always carried for us.

We might then begin to reflect on all the sacrifices, large and small, they made for us.  Saving their overtime pay so we could go with our college friends on a Spring Break vacation, helping us with a down payment on our first car, or even putting their own personal needs on hold so they could provide something more for us.  

They never stopped praying for our safety and to arrive home without incident.  They devoted themselves to us completely and devoting ourselves to them as they age is the very least we can do.  My parents have passed years ago, my dear Dad suddenly when I was 16 and my sweet Mom 10 years ago and this little tribute is for them. They’ve made me the caring and responsible individual I am today.  God bless you, Mom and Dad, you were the best!