“Are you ok, Mum?”
Big Boy held out his hand to help me up from the asphalt.
It was Friday morning, and we were nearly at the end of our morning walk, when I’d turned my ankle on a twig and ungracefully fallen face first onto the ground.
As he fussed over me, I reflected, for the umpteenth time that week, on how fortunate I was. I’m pretty grateful most of the time, but rarely more so than when I’m walking with our eldest son.
Bless his heart, he crawls out of bed every weekday morning at 7am to keep me company as we spend an hour or so strolling the length of Hawthorne Canal. We’ve been doing it now for three months. My feet ache and I haven’t lost any weight, but I’m completely addicted – if I miss out on the movement and conversation, I feel it keenly for the rest of the day.
It is, like all things in life, a brief window of opportunity.
Our eldest son is now twenty-three. He might not be at home for much longer, so these morning walks are a precious gift, and I treasure every minute of them. I’m always thanking him for coming with me, which amuses him no end.
We have a set route, which takes us through parkland and down to the water’s edge. At our walking pace, we can observe subtle changes from day to day – new graffiti here, a different variety of bird there. Hey, the new bubblers are working today. And isn’t the tide high this morning?
One of our great highlights has been watching Bruce and Shirley raise their chick Junior. Named after my childhood neighbours, B & S are diligent white-faced herons, who take turns guarding the nest while the other one is hunting. Junior has gone from nest-bound and downy, to clambering along the tree branch and glossy. He looks like he’s just about ready to fly. We stand there for a few minutes every morning, willing him to take off, but he’s not quite there yet.
As we walk, Big Boy and I talk.
You’d think we’d have run out of topics by now, but there’s something new to discuss every morning. We chat constantly, from the moment we leave the house until we’re back home again. It’s the most wonderful thing in the world.
My son, the tiny six pound four ounce treasure I gave birth to all those years ago, has become my grown-up friend. Apart from being respectful, loving and teasing, he’s also incredibly interesting to talk to. Our conversations are relaxed and easy, and occasionally deep and contemplative. His manner has always been very like Pete’s, but his outlook on life is uniquely his own, and I listen to him with equal measures of awe and pride.
Big Boy works from home, so these morning walks are important for him too.
He’s gone from swimming three times a week at school, to walking several kilometres a day at uni, to sitting at a desk in his room. The transition from active to sedentary happened almost overnight. He tells me that our morning walks help him in all sorts of ways – he’s lost weight, his sleep has improved, and he’s more mentally alert. Oh, and his knowledge of the local birdlife has grown significantly.
So…I’m enjoying our walks while they last. I’m no longer baking as much in the mornings as I used to, but that’s a small price to pay. After all, how often do we get to spend quality time with our adult children?
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
I enjoy my son’s company too. He has grown from a lovely little boy into a genuinely nice man. I feel very lucky and I know just how you feel with your beautiful son.
Beautiful…
What a wonderful gift.I love talking to my big boys, but so few occasions. Enjoy every morning.
Lovely story! (I do hope you didn’t sprain your ankle.) It is a blessing indeed when our adult children grow to become the sort of people we love to be with. It has happened that with my “girls,” just as it has happened with your boys.
Wonderful, how lovely. Do hope you’re OK after the tumble…it can shake you up 😓
I’m ok, thanks! Fell on my shoulder, so it’s a bit achey, but otherwise all good! xx
What a lovely thing to share between you two, and thank you for sharing it with us. I can only dream of doing the same thing one day.
Knowing how many problems my friends endure with their kids back home, and some here, I have a smile on my face for you!
now, did you get hurt?
Nope, I’m fine, thank you dearheart. xx
Thank you for sharing these beautiful moments as a mother. You have raised wonderful children!
SSG xxx
I look forward to my children growing up and I do hope I’ll be their friend. For now I’ll enjoy them while they’re little but thank you for the glimpse of what the future may look like. Kudos to you for raising such lovely people.
Oh I do hope that my wee lad, currently only one, grows up to be a man who walks and chats with his mother! Lovely thought. Thanks for sharing :)
This reminds me of the last couple of years our daughter was still at home, before moving to Adelaide. It is so nice when they stay home long enough to become friends with, and for you to see what nice people they have become. Such a treasure. Morning walks have been a fixture in my life for many years. For a long time they were my meditation, now I’ve added actual meditation to my mornings as well as the walk and am loving it. I’m glad you didn’t injure yourself on the fall. Nice post, Celia.
My son is 34 and over a thousand Ks away. I miss him being around even today. I will catch up with a phone call tonight. Glad you are enjoying every minute of their company. xo
Our time is so precious.
Probably misspelling but ‘Whither ye sowest, so shall ye reap’. Your son is the result of your husband’s and your love and teachings . . . glad the seed fell on fertile ground . . .
You lucky, lucky girl and most wonderful of all you know it too. I love my walk to the West Barn in the morning but I only have dogs for company and their conversation is Rubbish! This was a beautiful post – just beautiful.. love that baby heron..
. . . but their looks and closeness and being there next to you fill your world . . .
You are very lucky to have these times, my son is in Seoul and I am in Connecticut USA, so I don’t have much chance to talk to him, let alone walk with him; but I still can enjoy daily walks with my daughter, so I am blessed too.
Celia, I hope your ankle is going to be okay. What precious moments to share with your son on those morning walks.
This is indeed precious time. My heart swelled and warmed – that’s the only way I can describe it – when reading this. My elder daughter spent several months with us this summer and the conversations we can are things to treasure. People mourn the loss of babyhood and childhood – but I love the great company my two have become. Blessed indeed. These pictures are beautiful by the way. Wish I could walk with you one day Celia.
Thats lovely Celia. i hear you. mine is leaving home soon and I am so sad
It is so nice to spend time with adult children. My eldest son is 46 and we do a few walks around Brunswick together, usually once a week, and the conversation just flows so well. He also rings me daily. My 45 year old daughter, who is only 6 kms away, is often working too much these days so our chance to ‘play’ together has become rare these days, My other 36 year old son works all the time- no chance for walks and talks. If I need even younger company, I steal their kids for sleep overs with me.
This time you are spending with Big Man is one of the most precious gifts in life. A lovely post Celia.
I was touched by your post Celia.
Precious moments…brought a tear to my eye because it’a a bittersweet knowing that they will eventually move to be on their own. But perhaps the tradition of walks could be kept, even if not quite regularly but here and there. What a special gift you have to cherish! And I hope you didn’t hurt yourself too bad with the fall. ❤️ Take care!
What a lovely post. Cherish that boy, and small man too. I’m glad you weren’t more badly hurt in your fall – and how nice to have someone wonderful to pick you up and dust you off.
Those treasured moments, Celia. I remember them well and still count my blessings whenever I can spend some quality time with my beloved son or my daughter. Sorry to hear about your fall. I did that recently too. Take care, love. xx
So true… :)
What a wonderful post. Someday I too will hopefully get that quality time with my adult sons. Right now I treasure our one on one time with each boy. They are so different when it’s just the two of us.
Just the BEST ‘story’, not a story in a fictional sense but in a very real life sense.
good for both of you. Glad he was with you when you went over……