“BZZZZZZZZZZZ,” went my alarm clock at 3am yesterday morning, followed up by the alarm on my iPhone. Because when you have to wake up at 3am, you take all the backup you can get. Why did my alarm go off at 3am? Because The Kid was flying the coop. Spreading her wings. Leaving for a mission trip with her senior youth group for a full week. Off to South Dakota to help build some houses for the poor. This chick will be wielding a hammer, planing some wood, caulking windows perhaps. All for the good of humanity.
It will be a great experience. But this is the first time she will be this far away from home for this long without me. Well, last year she flew down south to visit my parents, but she was with family. That was different.
Sure, there are chaperones going. One being the pastor of our church who is totally cool and just loves the kids. Still. I won’t be there to remind her about stuff. You know, to put on sunscreen, drink plenty of water, wear a hat, eat her vegetables.
I won’t be there. Period. I am relinquishing control. I knew this day was coming, but I’m just not ready. What happened to my little baby? The baby who depended on me for everything?
I guess DH and I did good. She’s off for a week to do great work in a place that she’s never been. She’s going to see how people live who don’t have everything, or even anything. This will be a humbling experience for her. We are so proud. It’s pretty brave of her, going somewhere so foreign without us.
So, as DH and I are standing there saying goodbye, hugging her for dear life, I start to cry. I hear her say, “gawd mom” as I’m squeezing the life out of her. My baby is growing up. In exactly 2 years from right now, we will be getting her prepared for college. I don’t know how I’m going to do it.
So, should I turn her room into a spa or a mom cave? Ooh, I’ve always wanted my own luxurious bathroom. Decisions, decisions.
