This week has
been busy and it is only Wednesday.
Summer officially started last Friday and that was the first day of
summer vacation for the kids. They stayed
home with their dad and worked hard in the hot sun, staining the deck. We have been blessed with two wonderful kids.
We tell them that often. They should
know not only do we love them but that we also appreciate their help.
They seem to
change overnight. Olivia will be an 8th
grader next September and Elliott will be a fourth grader. It will be their last year in their current
school building. They will then move to a new one.
Back to
summer! They are in full swing and are
experiencing new adventures this summer.
Olivia is participating in a career exploration program at Cornell
University. She will be on campus for
three days and two nights. I went with
her to registration and helped her get settled in the dorm room. Yikes!
In a few years, we will be moving her in to her dorm for real. I wasn't crazy about this trial run. She was
so excited and told me I could leave, as she started to unpack. Where did my little girl go? So I left and took the bus back to central
campus and returned to work. As I walked
to my car that afternoon, I saw a group of the career exploration kids and I
looked for Olivia. It wasn't her group and I got tears in my eyes.
I arrived
home and it was quiet. John wasn’t
feeling well and Elliott was staying overnight at his friends’ home. Elliott
has been attending a basketball camp at Elmira College. It is a four-day camp and
he is enjoying the activity and learning the skills needed to play the game.
Perhaps he’ll want to sign-up for basketball next winter? He is branching out as well and making new
friends and learning new skills. Both
Olivia and Elliott are growing and because they are, I have to.
I don’t like
letting my kids go. Yes, I want them to
enjoy these opportunities but I stress about them when they are not home. What if they get hurt? Olivia recently went to a theme park and the
first ride she rode on, gave her whiplash.
The phone message gave me instant stress and I wanted to drive three
hours to pick her up. We spent a lot of time on the phone that day. She survived. I survived but it was a long, stressful day for me. I was relieved only when I picked her up and
saw that she was okay. She had pain for about a week but she was fine. I know I can’t keep our children in a bubble.
I want them to, and I encourage them, to experience the opportunities that they
are offered. It’ll make them stronger and
better individuals. I want what is best
for them – like all parents. I just want
to avoid cutting those apron strings before I have to. I don’t like these
growing pains. I'm not ready for them just yet.