When I was little, I hated being away from my parents, especially my mom.

Once, my parents took me to my grandparents’ house and asked if I wanted to stay. I said I would, but I didn’t actually think they would leave me there. Crying the entire time, I traced over the pages in a coloring book my mom and I had colored together. I thought it was going to bring her back.

According to mom, I stayed for only a day, but it felt like weeks. I still think it was longer than a day.

On days when Mom had to leave early in the morning for work, if I’d get out of bed, run to give her a hug and tell her that I loved her. I went back to bed, sometimes in tears, missing her.

I don’t remember when, but there was a day when I didn’t want my mom or dad to hold my hand in public anymore. I didn’t want them to walk me to my classroom anymore. Sometimes, I didn’t even want to give either one of them a hug when I left for school because “I was too old for that.”

When I was about 13, I was embarrassed by my parents — just like all my friends were of theirs.

So my parents came up with ways we could get a along and have fun together.

They knew I liked sports, so every once in a while, they’d suggest we go shoot hoops or toss a football back and forth. Of course I wanted to, especially when my brother or sister didn’t want to play. I liked the company. To me, they were doing something “cool.”

They’d set up the Nintendo and play Mario Brothers. We had these long, drawn-out competitions to see who could win first. I didn’t realize then that those were bonding moments.

It was about finding something that I enjoyed that either my mom or dad were able to do with me.

Since I started college, my parents and I haven’t gotten to spend as much time together as we would like. Our schedules are almost completely opposite now, so even getting an hour phone call in is hard to do.

But when we are able to get a weekend together, my favorite thing to do is to just sit and talk to them about what goes on in my life, as well as listen to what goes on in theirs.

Cooking dinner together, making popcorn, and watching movies together will always be my top choice in how I want to spend time with my parents. Of course, pretending to be rock stars, picking up the guitar with my dad, belting out mutually known songs while mom sings harmony isn’t too bad either.
Olivia Grigg, a 22-year-old College of Saint Mary’s student, is momaha’s intern this fall. You can read her blogs by clicking here.

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