She Does Love Me :)

Since about mid-November, I have been looking forward to Mondays. {Any other time of the year, Mondays and I aren't that tight} In particular, I would have to say Monday nights-because Monday night is Jr. High Basketball Game night. And, oh boy.. does Miss Mae love playing some basketball. (If I haven't mentioned it a time or four). So, as much as I look forward to parking myself amongst the other spectators and cheering her on while she and her teammates take the court-- it pales in comparison to the excitement, passion and drive that my daughter has for the sport.

Sometime, early this Fall...Mae told me that her knee was giving her some trouble. We talked to the coach about it....iced it regularly, did stretches...and other excercises to help foster a 'bum' knee...and pretty much chalked it up to growing quickly- and sore muscles. To no one person's fault-we avoided taking her to the doctor--because we thought it would go away...

Unfortunately-that's not what happened. By mid-second quarter tonight.... she was out of the game for good- Ice on knee....tears running down her face. After the game, she came and sat on my lap-in front of a gym full of people, and just cried and cried.

I just hugged her and cried along. Now, I know that this isn't really what one would consider a crisis situation.... but as a mom, it's difficult in any capacity to see your kids hurt physically or emotionally. I'm not certain if her tears were the result of physical pain, frustration or a mixture of both. I just know that my normally "tough cookie" of a kid was hurting-so I did all I knew to do and joined in. However, I have to admit--my tears were very bittersweet. When your kids are younger...nearly every day is spent kissing "boo boos" or just holding them to make them feel better. As they grow, well--those times become fewer and farther between. Now that Maeci is a teenager and oh so independent- I had thought that maybe she was too mature to run to mama, curl up in my lap and have me just hold her when she was hurt or sad. Do you know how both heartbreaking and heartwarming it is..... to see not only your kid hurting, but also when your teenager shows you they still need you, and not only that--but in front of their peers? Wow.

I love that girl. And, I'm pretty sure she loves me back.

And, there's me stepping away from crazee for a second or two to be sentimental... which I find myself doing more and more these days.... I'm an emotional wreck :) Which just makes me crazee'er. It's a cycle, I think! Ugh...I do know one thing for certain..
Kids grow up too fast.