A New Running Partner

Just before dusk one afternoon last week, after my little crew was fed and playing happily, I kissed them goodbye and bolted out the door for a solo run at my very favorite time of day. I made it halfway down the driveway when I heard the front door slam and Jenna frantically yell, "Mommy! Wait!" I raced back up the drive and we ran at each other, arms outstretched, laughing. She seemed suddenly overwhelmed by my leaving, as she is occasionally these days when I leave for a bit, and wanted to give me "just one more" sweet and wholehearted"chiss and hug." Then of course, she needed to ask "just one more question: "Why do you run, mommy?"

Hmm....Good question. "Well, because it makes me feel like a little girl."

After studying me intensely for a moment as if pondering my response, she asked to run down the driveway and back again with me. We ran hard, chased each other, boxed shadows, and laughed. When we reached the top of the driveway, she began pleading that I not leave. We walked hand in hand back to the house and I delivered her to the backyard, seemingly content to play with her Daddy and sister. I made it halfway down the driveway again when I heard her yelling for me once again.

Tears were in her eyes. "Mommy, I want to go with you! please!" It was one of those bittersweet Mama-moments: a flood of emotions hits you so strongly that it feels as if your heart could burst. My thoughts were something like, "This is so wonderful....her wanting to be with me like this, I know it won't last forever...I love her so much....she really loves me so much too." And at the same time my mind was fast-forwarding thirteen/fourteen years from now and I could see myself, oh so clearly, being the one at the top of the driveway wanting to beg her not to go.

"You know what, baby, why don't you get some running stuff on and have daddy bring you in the truck to meet me and you can run with me, kay?" I wasn't sure if she would take me up on the offer or not, but she rushed back to the house.

But she did take me up on it--with a pride and enthusiasm that warmed her Daddy's heart as much as mine. She was all business: armed with a water bottle, tennis shoes, and a ponytail. So we ran together. A pretty long way. We ran fast and slow, walked, stretched our arms out, chased each other, shared water, and admired the scenery. She loved it--every second of it.

So did her mama. I felt like a little girl running with my big girl.  Thanks, Daddy, for crewing and taking pics.