Clothes are all ready; backpack has been packed for days. Supplies have been checked and double checked and triple checked and, Oh you know what its like.
Then my questions to him,
“Have you got…?” “Yes mum”.
“Have you packed…?” “Yes mum”.
I am so nervous and so is he although he won’t admit it these days but I can tell by those beautiful eyes that I now have to stand on my tippy toes to look into.
The word is excited.
Last night his friend came, I am so pleased that he has a travelling companion. The talk was buzzing,
“What time shall we set our alarms for?”
“What time shall we go to bed?”
“Have we got…?” and “Do you think we should…?” “Yes Mike and No Mike.”
“Are you taking…?” and “Have you packed…?” “Yes Ben and Yes Ben”.
When Ben was little he ‘occasionally’ drove me nuts with his questions. I used to say “Yes Ben yes Ben yes Ben yes Ben” very very quickly until he laughed.
Over our evening meal in the garden; BBQ, his favourite, we tried hard to talk of other things but it was futile. This is too big, they are too excited.
It was an early night for us all. Paul & I are no longer able to take that much excitement! I woke every hour, checking the clock to make sure I hadn’t overslept. I didn’t, I was there.
In my kitchen are two young men, dressed and ready to go.
Too excited for breakfast
Check the bags again.
I check the flash on my camera, I can’t remember the last time I used it.
It is 4.00am, still dark in our world. I am in my nightie, in the road, camera around my neck.
It never stops: the worry, the concern, and the nervousness. The circumstances change, the subject of a mothers worry, a constant series of new stages.
Crawling, toddling, walking and falling.
Falling off the slide, the swing and the bike.
Playschool, big school then college.
Friends, public transport, clubbing and drinking.
University, course work, girlfriends and exams.
Driving, working, and travelling.
The Motorbike! and now
The Trip Abroad on the new, bigger, faster motorbike.
When did my baby, my beautiful brown eyed boy become a bloke?
And why did nobody tell me?
What a simply awesome post today! It captures so much about watching our children grow. Mine are 14 and 17, but I know that time flies. Thanks for sharing,
Rinda
Oh, I recognise some of those feelings, Miriam … Hoping they have a safe and happy time – and you too!
Miriam, you brought a tear to my eye, time goes so quickly and our little ones grow up without us realising.
Hope all is well with you, Paul and Ben.
Darlene xx