As parents, we worry about our kids in ways they don’t comprehend, at least until they become parents themselves. We do our best to prepare them and send them out into the world, hoping against all odds they make good decisions along the way, but knowing full well that they are going to hit a few bumps now and again.

This week, I encountered the biggest bump yet as a mom. I’m sure a lot of you have been there...your kid leaves the house, and, nowadays, has a cell phone with him that he is told to answer or respond to if you call them. Of course, the times he doesn’t answer, you picture the worst in your mind. You know deep down that your thoughts are likely irrational. And then, your worst fears are realized.

On Monday evening, Michael didn’t answer his phone when his dad called him. Being a parent, like any of us, his dad feared the worst. He hopped in the car, called a few more times with no answer, when he came across Michael on the ground with his friend standing over him. With no choice but to, he reacted. Michael was unresponsive, but then was talking. When his dad asked if he was okay, he responded with a weak and mumbled, “no.”

I met them at Belton Regional Medical Center, where Michael was thoroughly checked out, his head and neck scanned, and he was monitored closely for some time. A short while later, he and I took our first-ever ambulance ride over to Children’s Mercy, where they would do more tests and examinations.

It was a long night, and without a doubt one of the most terrifying of my life. But, despite a baseball-sized goose egg on the back of his head and an obvious concussion, Michael is okay. As I write this, he’s at home in his bed sleeping as the rain falls on yet another dreary morning. Despite the rain, there’s sunshine in my world today.

I’ve told Michael before that he’s got some of the greatest guardian angels looking after him. I am positive that they were there with him this week. His dad is a superhero. The nurses at BRMC, the medics from Belton, and the doctors at CMH were amazing and took good care of my boy. And, Michael is the strongest, bravest kid I know.

He’s okay. And I thank God for that, and I’ll continue to count my blessings for a long, long time to come.

Are you a runner? I’ve never really been much of one. When I was younger, and more fit, I used to run now and then, but I think I did it more for the social aspect than actual exercise.

While in junior high, I thought being on the track team sounded like fun, plus, all my friends were doing it, too. I remember the very first day of practice, we were told to just simply run until we couldn’t any longer. I’m not sure if the coaches were looking for the kids with the most endurance, or if they were really just trying to kill off the weak links (me). I thought I was going to die.

I’m not the most competitive person. In fact, I’d much rather prefer everyone cheer everybody on and we all be friends and go out for ice cream after the game. That’s just how I am; can’t we all just get along? But, for some reason, and a bit out of character, when I ran that day in seventh grade, I just had to not be the first one out. I ended up somewhere in the middle of the pack, plunking myself down with a water bottle in the grass after what felt like hours of running (it was probably 40 minutes tops).

I quickly realized track, and running, weren’t really my thing. Later on, I’d try my hand at cheerleading. But, again, I’d feel bad for the other team, so I wasn’t very good at that, either. I wanted so badly to be athletic, that I did a volleyball and basketball camp one summer. They were one or two weeks long, and basically taught basic drills. That was enough for me. I’m pretty sure I ended up injured in some fashion by the end of each camp. I did, however, make some new friends!

Shyness was never an issue, and I never really thought much about how ridiculous I must have looked as I tried my hand at various sports during the most awkward years of my life. My son is now at that age where he can consider what he’d like to do in middle and high school.

He’s thinking about doing track, though I’ve personally witnessed him running, and I know he’ll need to build up his stamina if he wants to do that. He’s played baseball since he was three, and that’s been his love ever since, but now that he’s in middle school, he’s noticing his friends playing other sports, and I’m sure he’ll become interested in soccer or football or tennis.

Luckily, Michael’s got a lot more athleticism that his mom does. I’m hopeful that he’ll have the same amount of guts to try new things too, and the smarts to realize where he doesn’t fit.

Sports weren’t ever my thing. Writing was. I’ll stick to what I’m good at and what I enjoy, and cheer for my boy in the stands as he tries to figure it all out himself.