Grab Mother and Son Time in Preteen Years

I always loved the movie Angels in the Outfield, not because I love Danny Glover or Angels or sentimentality, but because the mom turned out to be the owner of the baseball glove.

Lots of girls are brought up thinking they can do the same things guys can do. Shoot guns, play football, skateboard, run faster and fly higher than the boys. As a mom the role changes ever so imperceptibly - you don't really see it coming - from being one of the guys to being the guide on the side.

Eleven or twelve, can't remember what the cut off was, maybe 10...that was his age when I went from showing my son cool skateboarding tricks to watching, and that is how it should be.

So, when my son (now 19) and I were brainstorming things moms can do with their sons, in every instance the mom was the passive bystander - cool with me, at least mom gets to be there. Barring special, high dollar excursions, here is our list of suggestions for mother-son activities - yours are probably much more exciting:

1. BMX Bike Trail at River Parks in Tulsa. I loved throwing the bikes into the back of the truck - John, Matt's and Aaron's - and watching them ride up and down, doing crazy tricks, while I tried to pretend I was reading a book, rather than spazzing out over who might break their arm. Good times. I am sure the bikes are different today and there are other places to ride, but definitely do this. My neighbor has taken her son on Freewheel - what a great memory he will always have of his mother.

2. Across from River Parks in Tulsa is Tom's River Trails Bike Shop. Tom is the coolest ever - he sells bikes and skateboards. He also rents bikes of all kinds to ride along the river. A trip in to look at the skateboards and bikes was always fun. Sadly, Muskogee is now lacking a good bike shop, but Tom's, Lee's, or Sun and Ski always provide entertainment. Window shopping for guys.

3. Skateboarding Park - or make your own. Actually, I am glad these thrilling days of yester-year are over. I was always scared for broken bones. We did (do) have our own grinding rail (thanks, Henry) now collecting dirt in our back yard. Did you know you can also buy a mountain skateboard? A monstrous affair fit for breaking your neck falling down a mountain. Maybe just mountain biking is safer.

4. Just go get a Coke or food - guys like food.

5. Go clothes shopping. Guys like clothes just as much as girls.

6. Take your son to a museum or other cultural event. You may have to include food or a movie.

I left out the watching of hundreds of hours of sporting events, as you know you'll be there anyway. These suggestions have been made partly tongue-in-cheek. They work well only between the ages of about 11 and 13. You'd better have gotten it all in by that time. After that they're on their own. But, you will both be left with the memories of that grand time when you were still just one of the guys.

Mothers, let us know other suggestions for activities to do with your son as he gets older. I'm sure you have a lot of great memories!