Letting Them Go
It’s late and I’m tired, but I can’t go to bed. In two hours (at 2:30am) I will be dropping my baby (who has somehow morphed in to this sometimes mouthy, but still lovable thirteen-year-old boy) off at school so he can ride a bus to Chicago and then board a plane to Washington D.C. for a class trip. He and his 8th grade classmates are going to Washington D.C. to see some of the things they’ve been learning about this year in their American History class. They will be exploring the White House and the National Archives, sitting at Lincoln’s feet at the Lincoln Memorial and hanging out at museums and Arlington Cemetery. He’ll be sharing a hotel room with three friends with a couple college students and teachers roaming the floor to make sure they stay out trouble. He’s so excited. I’m a basketcase.
I’m sort of an over-protective mom. I like to know where my kids are all the time. The teenagers tend to frown on this. They would like to have their own space. I know they need their independence. I know to be a responsible mother I have to give them their independence to prepare them for their future. But it’s hard to let go. Last night I was hugging him before bed and I literally didn’t want to let go. He said, “Um. Ok Mom. You can let go now.” And tonight (or, um, this morning I guess) I have to let him go 1,000 miles away from home. Without me. Hold me.
For me (at least so far…knock on wood) this has been the hardest part of teenagerhood; the letting go. Will he make good decisions? Will he follow the rules? Will he stick with his group? Will he remember to put on clean socks? Will he eat something besides chocolate for lunch? I guess I’ll find out on Sunday when he comes home.
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POSTED IN: Weary Parent
4 opinions for Letting Them Go
Angela
Apr 3, 2008 at 4:01 am
You’ve done the best you can, now you get the joy (and the pain) of watching him do the best he can. This is probably not a consolation, but studies have revealed that our teens’ values are more like our parents’ values than we the parents’ realize.
Now in three years, when my 5th grader goes on her first 8th grade class trip, send me that same little comment. I’ll probably be feeling the same way.
Ellen
Apr 3, 2008 at 4:37 am
Letting go is the hardest for me as well. I was just having this conversation with a friend —- you spend all your time in full control of your children - driving them everywhere, helping them make decisions and choices, and then boom - one day you just have to let go and trust they have learned through your guidance. The problem is - I can’t seem to view my teens as young adults capable of making decisions!!
Beth
Apr 3, 2008 at 8:55 am
I the same thing last week, I missed him a lot but I just kept reminding myself how important this trip was to him.
Love Thursday April 17, 2008 | The Bean Blog
Apr 17, 2008 at 9:42 am
[...] Keaton was in Washington D.C. on his eighth grade American history field trip, all the kids got together in front of the Capitol [...]
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