This past weekend my seventeen year old son came in about 12:30 AM panicked because he’d wrecked his father’s car. It seems a drunk driver veered into his lane and he swerved off the road to avoid hitting him.
We have 2 teens and 2 adults trying to get to school and work everyday. Well, thank goodness, I work from home, but still, juggling 4 schedules and 2 cars every day is a pain. And now we’re going to be down to 1 car for a while, and facing some hefty repair bills when we’re trying to pay off credit card debt and have a daughter starting college in the fall.
And yet…
All I could think was, he could’ve been hurt! My baby boy! My precious son. He could’ve died. How many parents get a call from the police saying their child has been killed or seriously injured in a car wreck? I wanted to tell him no more driving! I wanted to wrap him in my arms like I used to and protect him from harm.
And this was my kid who had an emergency room trip once a year for the first ten years of his life. He’s had more stitches and staples than Raggedy Andy. But I still had more control over his safety when he was small. Cover all the electrical sockets, pad the fireplace, baby-gate the kitchen, lock down the toilet and the VCR, and watch him every minute when he was out in the yard. Hold his hand, only let him climb to the big, low branch on the tree, and only with Mama holding on.
Now, I have to let him go out into the big, bad world and take his chances with all the idiots out there.
I can’t imagine being the mom of a son who had to go off to war. Or, nowadays, a daughter. My heart goes out to all those mothers whose children are fighting for freedom around the world. Whether it be the rebels in Libya, or the youth in Iran, or our American soldiers.
For my next Blaze, I’ve been researching the military hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan and it’s a scary, dangerous world there right now.
I thank my lucky stars my son wasn’t hurt the other night. And I’m praying for the safety of all those young men and women–most of whom are not much older than my son—who are putting themselves in harm’s way out of duty to their country. Their sacrifice and the sacrifice of all military families can never be measured or repaid.
As for my son, I can only pray he will continue to stay safe as he ventures into the world. I can’t wrap him in a blanket and keep him home anymore. But if we could, we would, wouldn’t we-mothers of the world?

In honor of Mother’s Day, I’d like to give away some books!

My Harlequin Blaze, UNDERNEATH IT ALL, features a heroine who has moved cross-country to track down her birth mother. I can’t think of a more suitable story line for this special day, so I’ve got three copies to give away to bloggers today. All you need to do is post in the comments your answer to this question:

What is one trait you appreciate about your mother?

Winners will be announced here in the comments tomorrow so be sure to check back.

And to those of you celebrating this day, Happy Mother’s Day!