On the Dignity and Vocation of Women by Pope John Paul II

It was the first time I had witnessed anything like that in him. He escorted her as if it were his sworn duty with not one attempt to dash or run through the parking lot. My son took our friend's hand, and with great care and solicitude walked slowly with her through the parking lot to our van.

His entire demeanor shifted in that moment. Can you hold her hand and walk with her to keep her safe?” A deeply serious look came over his face, and he nodded solemnly with his blonde ringlets. I have to carry this big picture, and I need you to help her get to the car safely. has a big baby in her belly, so she has to walk slowly. I thought for a moment about what to do, and just before we walked out of the store, I set down the picture, dropped down to his eye level to talk to my son and said, “Mommy needs your help. I was also concerned that he would break away from my friend if she walked with him, knowing that she was not in a state to be running after him if he did so. I was especially nervous walking out to the car that day because my hands were full with the picture, and I did not have a spare hand to hold his. There was an ease and carefree lightheartedness that was a part of his little spirit, an inquisitive, easy going, roll with the punches kind of kid. He was always ready for excitement and adventure, rather impulsive, very active, ready to make a break for it if he saw a chance to run and roam free, terrifying in parking lots.

His golden curly locks would blow in the wind like the carefree adventurous soul that he is. He would want to run as soon as he hit fresh air-a natural impulse, just not a very safe one. He loved to run and play, and keeping him calm in parking lots was always a tricky spot. My son, like many two year olds, was a bit of a wild child. Before we headed out of the store, I began to get nervous. It was too large for my friend to carry, and too large for me to carry with one hand. When we got to the frame shop, the picture turned out to be much larger than I had expected. I had one of my sons, age two at the time, in tow that day. She asked if I could take her to pick it up, get out of the house, etc. A very pregnant friend was in her nesting phase, and a picture she had framed for the nursery was ready at the frame shop. During my tenure as a stay at home mom, something happened one day that was particularly enlightening as a mother of two sons.

On the Dignity and Vocation of Women by Pope John Paul II