No one prepares you for it. It’s like you don’t believe it will happen that they will eventually grow up and move on from you. That someday they will start pushing away from you because so much of their lives are about needing you.
Booga came home from school and was pumped about going on a school trip to an island some ways away from home. And he was bouncing like a school kid. I was sure that I had read that they needed sleeping bags and pillows but then it could have been all that prep that went into getting my other kids ready for sleep away camp when they were in school.
SO I called his teacher who immediately knew it was me.
That is never a good sign.
It means you’ve called her way too much.
She said hello like she was getting a call from a pesky neighbor who called a lot about her dog barking too much.
“Ooo, that’s not a good sign.” I said aloud, “You already knew it was me.”
“Well, I have you programmed into my phone.”
Another not so great sign…
“Oh well, I was just calling to ask if Boog needs a pillow or a sleeping bag?”
About this time Booga had come up behind me and was leaning over me listening to this conversation. He stood like a vulture that would-if need be- grab the phone from me immediately if I said anything that might hinder his sojourn to the island.
He was so close in fact that I began laughing at his concern about this….
“What’s funny?”
“Boog is standing over me because he’s terrified I’m going to do something so that he can’t go…”
As soon as I got off the phone we completed his packing by making sure he knew how the camera’s worked. I had told his teacher he might need help advancing the film but it would be fun finding out what he thought was interesting. I gave him his money we had saved out for his trip. And he dutifully put it in his wallet.
I put his bag next to the door so he wouldn’t forget it and sometime during the evening he picked it up and moved it to his room-because clearly it would be safer there right?
Anyone who thinks that would really have to see Boog’s room.
It’s “everything in it’s place and everything has a place” but his dad and I are going to have to clean it out this summer when he is spending some respite time with his aunt because it’s the home of the one the worlds oddest pack rats.
So this morning he got up like usual and had his breakfast and coffee…(Coffee- which is something that has just manifested in Booga’s life…..the need to drink a cup of coffee with creamer and Splenda.) He brought his bag out to the dining room and he ate his cereal and drank his juice and put on his shoes like he does every morning after he showers and puts on aftershave and deodorant. He grabbed his other bag and then stopped when he saw the bus pull in the drive way; which he never does. And in a manner of the way his father says goodbye when leaving for a foreign country or a road trip that is going to take him to some distant far off land like-Alabama-where they still serve Coke in glass bottles. He looked at me and said, “Well, I’m going.”
Suddenly I realized this was my cue to get all mushy-like when dad leaves.
“Okay, be careful. And take lots of pictures and have fun.”
“Okay Mom. Bye.”
“Bye.”
And with that he took off for his retreat from me.
It’s about the time he would be getting home right now. But on the itinerary, they should be in the Butterfly house or back at the hotel or shopping now.
I hope he took pictures. I hope he doesn’t give them a hard time at bed time. I hope he’s okay with the pizza and doesn’t get all freaky about it. I hope he gets up when they want him to and I hope he doesn’t fight with anyone.
I hope he has fun.
*Snicker.*
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