The Hug

THE HUG

It was one of those mornings.
You know the type.

Things are tense.

Our infant son had been up all night.

My wife’s eyes (along with the rest of her) were weary.

My oldest son, the five-year-old, wasn’t feeling his best either.

He was slow getting ready for school.
He understandably didn’t feel like going.

It was just one of those mornings.
You know the type.

As I drove him to school, he was quiet.

When parents are tense and tired, the children feel it.
They know by word and gesture when their acts and attitudes are less tolerated.

After being fussed at, he was sullen.

It was one of those mornings.
You know the type.

I walked him to his classroom as usual.
He walked in, removed his coat and hung it up.

I usually give my son a hug before I leave him in class.
I knew today he really needed a big hug, and maybe so did I.

He came forward with his arms outstretched. I bowed down,
clasped my arms around him, closed my eyes and hugged him tight.

Normally, I would only hug him for two or three seconds but on this morning,
I held him tight as the seconds ticked by like dashed lines on the highway.

All of a sudden, I felt him get heavier.

Still clinging to my son, I opened my eyes. I understood why he had gotten heavier.
His feet were off the ground. He had curled his legs up and his heels were only inches away from his backside.

He clung.

I clung.

Sometimes in life no words are needed. As he folded his legs up and trusted his father to carry all of his weight, he didn’t get heavier to my spirit.

I actually felt lighter.

It was a ritual repeated countless times through countless years from countless parents to countless children.

The touch and embrace between a parent and a child, make them both feel more secure.

It was one of those mornings.
You know the type.

today’sTHOT============================

Don’t be discouraged. It’s often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock.

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PASS IT ON!
Yeah, you can send this Funny to anybody you want. And, if you’re REAL nice, you’ll tell them where you got it! http://www.mikeysFunnies.com

About russtowne

I'm awed by the beauty of nature and the power of love and gratitude. Some of my favorite sensory experiences include waves crashing on rocky shores, waterways in ancient redwood and fern-filled forests, and rain. My wife and I have been married since 1979. We have 3 adult children and 5 grandchildren. I manage a wealth management firm that I founded in 2003. My Beloved is a Special Education teacher for Kindergartners and First Graders. I'm a published author of approximately 60 books in a variety of genres for grownups and children.
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2 Responses to The Hug

  1. Paws To Talk says:

    We love hugs!
    Bella and DiDi

  2. russtowne says:

    Considering how wonderful hugs are and how great they make people and dogs feel, I’m a little surprised that there aren’t a lot more of them! I’m certainly doing my part to spread the joy of hugs every chance I get!

    We’ve got 3 dogs (a Chocolate Lab , a Black Lab , and a small retriever from a Scandinavian country that I can’t recall the name of at the moment–the name of the country or name of the type of retriever–but her name is Ginger)

    Keep those tails waggin’!

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