This morning Andy and I waved goodbye to our ten year old daughter for the next 5 days. Well, 4 ½ really. Yup, she is gone all this week. Her elementary school does this field trip every year for the 5th graders. It's called Outdoor Science School or OSS. They drive two hours away and stay at a campsite in the mountains. It's near Big Bear for those of you familiar with Southern California. Then they do all kinds of fun science related things. It's supposed to be a blast. I've known about this trip since she was in kindergarten. But again, it was a "someday" she will go. Those somedays are coming quicker and quicker.
I held it together for her this morning, even though I thought I was going to lose it a couple times. It actually helped that her bus took a bit longer to get going because of a problem they were having closing the emergency door, after the bus driver showed them how to open in case there was an emergency. The other buses had already gone and we must have waved goodbye to the students on her bus at least five times before it finally left, so it was a bit comical. That made it a bit less sad for me, and for her I'm sure. She was definitely excited to go on this trip, but there were tears at bedtime last night. I remember going away from home when I was her age for almost two weeks. On an airplane! And I wasn't really with anyone I knew! Yeah, I don't know what my parents were thinking, but I survived.
We had talked about the story of me going away many times over the past few months when she became nervous about leaving. I think it helped her to hear that what she was feeling was totally normal. I hear from parents who have already gone through this that the kids come back completely changed. A bit more mature and independent. I'm also hoping that it takes away some of the attitude she likes to cop with us. Although, I'm not holding my breath on that one. Can't say I will miss that, but I know I will miss her like crazy. It's going to be weird having only two to deal with for a few days. Sure Sonya has gone over to friend's to spend the night, but never for this long. On the plus side, I plan on making every meal she complains about and the little two are excited because some of them are their favorites. That along with doing an overhaul of her room should make this a little more bearable for me anyway. Andy is better than I am, and just kept saying "It's really only three days! It's fine!" Yeah, we'll see who is more sad tomorrow. I tend to get my emotions out of the way at the beginning of something. You know how men are though. He'll break eventually.
So here I am at yet another milestone with one of my kids. Leaving home for a few days. I know this is just a taste of things to come later on down the road, but I'm sure she will have a great time and yes I will eventually stop weeping and be fine. Now excuse me while I go refill my Xanax prescription.
I held it together for her this morning, even though I thought I was going to lose it a couple times. It actually helped that her bus took a bit longer to get going because of a problem they were having closing the emergency door, after the bus driver showed them how to open in case there was an emergency. The other buses had already gone and we must have waved goodbye to the students on her bus at least five times before it finally left, so it was a bit comical. That made it a bit less sad for me, and for her I'm sure. She was definitely excited to go on this trip, but there were tears at bedtime last night. I remember going away from home when I was her age for almost two weeks. On an airplane! And I wasn't really with anyone I knew! Yeah, I don't know what my parents were thinking, but I survived.
We had talked about the story of me going away many times over the past few months when she became nervous about leaving. I think it helped her to hear that what she was feeling was totally normal. I hear from parents who have already gone through this that the kids come back completely changed. A bit more mature and independent. I'm also hoping that it takes away some of the attitude she likes to cop with us. Although, I'm not holding my breath on that one. Can't say I will miss that, but I know I will miss her like crazy. It's going to be weird having only two to deal with for a few days. Sure Sonya has gone over to friend's to spend the night, but never for this long. On the plus side, I plan on making every meal she complains about and the little two are excited because some of them are their favorites. That along with doing an overhaul of her room should make this a little more bearable for me anyway. Andy is better than I am, and just kept saying "It's really only three days! It's fine!" Yeah, we'll see who is more sad tomorrow. I tend to get my emotions out of the way at the beginning of something. You know how men are though. He'll break eventually.
So here I am at yet another milestone with one of my kids. Leaving home for a few days. I know this is just a taste of things to come later on down the road, but I'm sure she will have a great time and yes I will eventually stop weeping and be fine. Now excuse me while I go refill my Xanax prescription.
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| Saying goodbye to her sisters |
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| With her besties, Lilianna and Charlotte |
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