Sawyer Drayton was just two years old when he first met Charlotte, who is now his step-mom. Together, they’ve bonded over their many adventures. In 2024, they sat down with StoryCorps to share how, through those adventures, they’ve both learned important life lessons from each other.
TRANSCRIPT:
Charlotte: Being your stepmom has given me just a lifetime of happiness. And so, I just, I wonder if you can think about any great memories that really stand out for you. Just about us, you know, things that we've done together.
Sawyer: Definitely one of them is helping you get over your arachnophobia by helping you hold the tarantula at Bee City Zoo.
Charlotte: Oh, my gosh, Bubba, that's a good one. That day, did you know that I didn't have any idea that day that I was going to do something like that? That I'd hold a tarantula? No? But you know how afraid I was of spiders.
Sawyer: Yes.
Charlotte: Yeah. And so what do you remember about that day?
Sawyer: I remember the feel of the tarantula's claws on my palm.
Charlotte: Oh, my gosh. Yeah. Because you held it first, right?
Sawyer: Yeah.
Charlotte: So, I just remember thinking to myself, I've got Little Dude with me, and there's something…it was the first time I'd ever realized this, about how I felt about you, was that it gave me so much courage. Just being with somebody I loved so much, who has shown me so much bravery and tries new things the way that you do. I thought, "If I'm ever going to do this, it's going to be now. I've been afraid of spiders my whole life. I don't want this to get to control what I do outside anymore and, like, limit my adventures with Little Dude. So, I'm just gonna, I'm gonna touch a spider today!" And I did a lot more than that, didn't I?
Sawyer: You held one.
Charlotte: I held one! And so, you did it first. Why did you decide to hold the spider first? Do you remember?
Sawyer: Because I knew you were scared.
Charlotte: Yeah.
Sawyer: And I wanted to show you how to exactly do it--
Charlotte: Uh-huh.
Sawyer: --like he told us.
Charlotte: Yeah.
Sawyer: But I know some people get so scared, they forget how to do the thing that they're told.
Charlotte: Gotcha. So, you wanted to show me how to do it, just knowing that I wouldn't really probably be able to focus very much. I think that you also probably just wanted to help me to feel brave.
Sawyer: Yeah.
Charlotte: Yeah. And it was just such a thoughtful thing. I mean, you were what, four years old?
Sawyer: Maybe five.
Charlotte: Maybe five. Yeah. Four or five. Either way, you were a really young kid to be that thoughtful, dude. That's the way that I remember thinking of it. I've always felt so lucky to get such a thoughtful step-dude, you know? Some of the things that you've taught me are how to be brave. Like, we were just talking about, you know, holding that tarantula. And I remember you were holding my hand, and you just gave it a little squeeze. And so, you've taught me how to be brave. You have taught me that it's okay to not feel brave. You've taught me that it's okay to be scared. And how to lean on the people I love and who love me. And having you in my life, you've given me a partner in this adventure of life. Like, if I think about something that sounds really, really fun to do, like a hike or a museum, or a movie. I love you.
Sawyer: I love you.
