The big day finally arrived for the little boy — kindergarten! However, his mother was plagued with two worries. One centered on his adjustment to the new learning environment, but the other focused on his safety and walking home.

The boy was excited about this new adventure, completely unaware of his mother’s worries and concerns. This was the child’s first step on the long path of independence and for her it was letting go. I guess you could say for him it was a small step, but for his mother, it was a giant leap.

The mother accompanied him to school on that first day; and after school was dismissed, he was to walk home. However, throughout the day, this consumed her thoughts all the while being cognizant of how time seemed to move at a snail’s pace. This heightened anxiety transcended all else.

On the other hand, when the school day concluded, her son slowly made his way across town, keeping in mind the rules his mother taught him about crossing the street and awareness of traffic. Eventually arriving home, he was greeted with hugs and kisses from her, and was inundated with questions about his day.

Now, there’s more to the story: Decades later, in a moment of reflection, his mother made a confession to her son. She confided to him that on that first day of kindergarten, as he was walking home, she was ahead, observing him from behind trees, homes, and hedges.

This is but a small example of a mother’s love. It’s a unique bond between mother and child that transcends everything. A mother’s love is in selfless care, emotional support, encouragement, and above all else, unconditional love.

So, to all of the mothers out there, God bless you and thank you for all that you have done, and may you all have a most blessed Mother’s Day. (By the way, the little boy was me and the mother was my mother Alice. My last words that I whispered to her were “Ti amo,” which means “I love you.”)

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Daniel J. Paul is a retired school administrator. His columns focus on education, old-fashioned family values, relationships, and other topics. To submit comments email meaningfuldifferences@gmail.com.