We have shared some beautiful stories about mother/son relationships with you before. Like the story of an 11-year-old boy who became his mom’s “physical therapist” when her insurance refused to cover rehab after she was the victim of a hit and run. And there was also this mom’s letter to her 7-year-old “athlete” son, reminding him that she’ll always be his biggest cheerleader.
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But children aren’t the only ones who share a close bond with their moms. 45-year-old Barton Brooks adores his mom, Carla, and he’s put his entire life on hold to take her on the adventure of a lifetime.
Barton isn’t just travelling with his mom for fun; he’s taking her on an epic journey as a way of thanking her for the 20 years she spent caring for his dying father, and as a way of helping her find her joy again. He’s blogging the adventure at the Little Girl from Kamas blog, where he explains his idea:
After his debilitating stroke, my mom took care of my handicapped dad – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 20 years – until he passed away last year.
For as long as I can remember, whenever she did something impressive he’d jokingly say, “How’d you do that? You’re just a little girl from Kamas! (Utah)”and it would always make her smile. But now that he’s gone, she’s been completely lost as to who she is without being his caretaker, and she just can’t seem to find her old adventurous self.
I wanted to see if I could change that by taking her on a grand adventure, because I think it’s time to find that little girl from Kamas, and prove to her just how much life she has left to live…
Over the course of the trip, 77-year-old Carla has come alive, finding joy in her experiences abroad. But Barton has been surprised by how meaningful it has been for him!
“I get to hug my mom every night, show her things she’s always wanted to see, and have her hang on my arm as we walk around each city,” said Barton. “I’ve already gotten more than I could have ever dreamed. It was the best decision I’ve made.”
Barton and his mom set out on September 29th, and so far they’ve been to Paris, Switzerland, London, Wales, Budapest, Prague, and Munich.
“We’re giving her 20 adventures for the 20 years she gave Dad,” explained Barton’s fiancé. It’s a way to say “Thank you.”
Share this heartwarming adventure today!
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