Where are you, Child?

"Why did you come home this late? Don't you realize how hard it is for me not to worry about you?"

"That's what's wrong with you, Mom. You don't trust me. You treat me like a little boy!!!" And then he races up the stairs and slams the door.

She bowed her head in resignation. How can she not worry when she knows it is not safe to be out too late. Hasn't her son been watching the news? 

Silently, she prepared dinner for him. She sets the table and goes up to him room and knocks on his door. "My son, come and have dinner. I made your favorite spicy beef stew. I haven't eaten dinner too. I wish we could sit down and have it together... please?"

One minute passes. No response.

Two minutes. Still nothing.

Her eyes now welling with tears as she slowly goes down the stairs.

And then she hears a little boy's voice... "Mom.. I'm so sorry.."

She turns around and sees not the grown man her son has become, but the little boy she missed so much. She puts her arms around her child and all emotions came flooding in.

She remembered the time she hugged him when she had him in her womb. She remembered the time she first held him in her arms on the day he was born. She remembered that tight embrace she got from her son on his first day of nursery school. 

"My son, I am sorry if I pester you with questions about what time you'd be home, who are you with, and where you are. I am just being a parent and I am this way because I love you. I care for you, therefore I worry about you. I hope you understand. I am getting old and insecure. You are my little boy, no matter how grown you've become. In my eyes, you will always be my precious baby."

"I know, Mom. I understand. I'm sorry..."

"Hush now, my child. I will always be here for you no matter what. Now, I want you to go downstairs with me and have dinner. Your spicy beef stew misses you too."

"Sometimes we are so busy growing up that we forget our parents are growing old."