One day a little boy was born into the world and for a very small moment, his mother held him close. But soon they came to clean him up and right then the mother knew.
Life with
that little boy would always mean letting him go.
Time passed and the little boy became a one-year-old. His mother knew something had changed
because the little boy didn't want to be held anymore, he wanted to walk. So she kissed him on top of his head, took a seat at the
back of the room, a
nd held her breath and crookedly, very crookedly, he took his first steps. From the place where she watched him, that mother hummed a quiet
hum. And in her heart the words went something like this:
Be safe little boy,
Don't you fall little boy,
Look how fast you've grown.
Be safe little boy, where you walk little boy
You're not yet on your own.
The boy grew older and for his sixth birthday he got a shiny bike. His mother knew it was time to let go a little more. So she
kissed him on the top of his helmet, stood back, and slowly, very slowly, he climbed into the seat. From the place where she watched him start to ride, that mother whistled a quiet whistle. And in her heart, the words went something like this:
Be safe little boy,
Pedal hard little boy,
Look how much you've grown.
Be safe little boy, where you ride little boy,
You're not yet on your own.
Middle school came and the boy became a football player. Football was rough and tough and sometimes boys got hurt, but his mother knew it was time to let him play. So she helped him with his shoulder pads, kissed him for good luck, stayed at the
top of the bleacher, and wildly, very wildly, he tackled and ran and won that game. From the place where she watched him play, that mother thought a quiet thought. And in her heart, the words went something like this:
Be safe little boy,
Don't get hurt little boy,
Look how much you've grown.
Be safe little boy, where you play little boy,
You're almost on your own.
More time passed and the boy learned to drive. Driving was scary for his mother, because sometimes she wouldn't know where he was or if he was okay. But his mother knew it was time to give him the keys. So she found
him a car, kissed him on the cheek, stayed at the top of the driveway, and carefully, very carefully, he backed down the hill and drove out of sight.
From the place where she watched him leave, that mother prayed a quiet prayer. And in her heart, the words went something like this:
Be safe little boy,
Buckle up little boy,
Look how much you've grown.
Be safe little boy, where you drive little boy,
You're almost on your own.
The years went by crazy fast and the boy fell in love. Love meant that his mother would have to share her little boy's heart with someone else, but she knew it was time for him to take that journey. So she helped him order flowers, blew him a kiss as he drove off, and gladly, very gladly he went to find his girl. From the place where she watched him leave, that mother
whispered a quiet whisper. And in her heart the words went something like this:
Be safe little boy,
Guard your heart little boy,
Look how much you've grown.
Be safe little boy, where you love little boy.
It's time you're on your own.
Two more years passed and the boy was getting married and moving away. Marriage meant his mother might not see her boy much, maybe not at all. But she knew her boy loved the girl, and it was time to plan a wedding. So she helped him
find a fancy suit, kissed them both as they finished their vows, and suddenly, very suddenly her little boy was gone. From the place where she watched them walk out of the church, that mother cried a little cry. And in her heart, the words went something like this:
Be safe little boy,
Don't forget me little boy,
Look how much you've grown.
Be safe little boy, where you leave little boy,
You're finally on your own.
~ Karen Kingsbury
