I watched the movie The Education of Little Tree with my 9 year old son yesterday. Maybe that doesn't sound like much, but it made me realize how much he is already growing away from me. Sitting on the couch with him beside me, no one else demanding our attention felt so good, and is so rare.
The movie deals with a Cherokee boy learning about his heritage. It opened so many doors for my son and I. We are of Creek blood, but the traditions and pride in our Indian heritage was not passed on to us. The scenes in the movie showing prejudice against Indians and the pride of the mountain people helped my son understand why my father is ashamed of being Creek Indian. The story of the Trail of Tears, where the Creek walked with the Cherokee gave my son some idea of the strength of the people he is descended from.
Perhaps the best part of the day was when I was crying at a sad part in the movie, and my son reached over and hugged me. He's already at the age where mom isn't cool and displays of affection have to be discrete and private. That hug meant more to me than anything that has happened in the past month.