Moral of the Story

Cindy Trane Christeson

“Parenthood is quite a long word. I expect it contains the rest of my

life.” -- Karen Schoot Boates

A few days before our daughters returned to school after vacation, I went

to pick up Kelly from the Crystal Cove Shake Shack in Laguna Beach. It is

a favorite destination for both girls when they go for a run because they

can spend so much of the run gazing out at the ocean and they end at a

favorite place of ours for lunch.

I love meeting them there and sharing wonderful sandwiches, shakes and

scenery. It probably doesn’t hurt that the run is basically all downhill

from our house, either.

Our other daughter, Amy, had asked me to pick her up at the shake shack

the day before. Both days I passed them as I drove by, and both days I

arrived earlier than our designated time. Both days I stood on a bench

and watched them from quite a distance. Both days I smiled the moment I

saw them. Both days I also started crying.

Both days there were also other runners out on the same trail, but I

could spot both girls instantly, even from a distance. I could pick them

out of a crowd anywhere because I know their ponytails. I know just how

they bounce when they run.

I have watched those bouncing ponytails for almost two decades. I loved

cheering for Kelly, whose hair is as big as her personality, and for Amy,

who has a golden heart and hair of liquid gold. As I stood and watched

them from a distance, memories of all the different ages and stages, hair

and hats, flashed before my eyes.

I remembered lopsided pigtails and ponytails with as much hair inside as

there was outside the rubber band. I remembered all the colorful

headbands, barrettes and bows as big as bananas.

I watched those bouncing ponytails at every event, every sport, every

season. I cheered and screamed and cheered some more. I’d pray for them,

that they would do their best, shine for God, and be safe.

Both days they ran up to me with a big smile and hugged me. And cried

with me. I think it was cathartic. I know it was something.

“I’m sorry honey, I just thought of all the times I watched your

ponytails and how long it will be till I see you again,” I said to both

girls.

Both of them said basically the same thing.

“It’s OK Mom, I’m going to miss you too. And I love you too.”

I haven’t seen those ponytails for a while, but the girls bounce in and

out of my heart many times a day. When they do, I pray for them. I pray

that they will do their best, shine for God, and be safe. Because now

they are playing the most important game of all. They are playing the

game of life.

And you can quote me on that.

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She can be reached via e-mail at

cindy@onthegrow.com or through the mail at P.O. Box 6140-No.505, Newport

Beach 92658.