My youngest is 12 going on 13 mid-July. He’s my more adventurous one of my last two
children. When the opportunity to go to
a church retreat for a week came up, he was all for it. I was nervous. It’s six hours away!My two oldest kids have done things like this before, but it’s different with my baby. I’m not sure why.
So, with a nervous stomach, we packed him on the church van with six other middle schoolers and sent him off to a college campus to have his first mountain top experience learning about God.
My first fear was passed when they arrived. I don't like other people driving my kids. Phew! Of course, they still have to come back.
Then comes the first phone call, he’s having a blast! They are playing on water slides, investigating the “way cool” dorm room they will call home for the week, and he’s buying snacks with the money sent. He’s a BIG snacker. I hope the money lasts!
The next day – the mild heart attack. He and his friend have managed to become
separated from the group and are wondering around campus trying to find
them. He did the right thing – he called
his dad for his counselors phone number.
I had to smile at his maturity in handling the situation. He did finally find them and all is
well. I knew it would be, but when there’s
a small crisis like this all the horror stories I’ve read immediately go on
instant replay.Four more days. Wednesday is my next concern – they will either be white water rafting or on a zip line. Yikes! Ok, yes, I’m over protective. How can I not be? Life is precious and oh so fragile…
No, I’m not sitting here in a frenzy counting down the days, it’s not as bad as I’m making it seem. However, he’s my baby. They all are, and I want so much to keep them safe. But, much like each mama bird, sometimes we have to let them out of the nest to spread their wings. It’s just such a relief when they fly back home full of wonderful tales, and you can put your arms around their neck, hug them tight and breathe a sigh of relief.
Oh dear....I can relate. Sent my oldest daughter (12 on June 30th) to her first Church Camp experience this week! She cannot call or contact me unless there is an emergency, so I am on my knees praying for her and her safety a good part of the day! Time goes fast, doesn't it? These will be experiences they will never forget, I'm sure! :) Blessings!
ReplyDeleteHaley,
DeleteI know how you feel. To be honest, he's not supposed to have a cell phone either, but I just couldn't quite make him leave it at home. I'm really glad he has it! He does leave it in his room for activities, but at least we text after meals and such. So nice to know he's ok. Praying for your daugther and you - we'll both be at ease come next week. :)
April
This reminds me of the first time one of my cousins went away with the Air Training Corp, when he was about 14 years old. They went to Germany for a week, so a completely different language which P didn't speak - at all! This was in the days before mobile phones.
ReplyDeleteOn some stage during the trip, his mum (back in England)answered the home phone to hear a very wobbly voiced P telling her that he was all alone and he was lost. Apparently they'd been taken into the nearest town for the afternoon and he'd somehow mangaged to lose his friends. I'm not sure what she told him to do but she did sort him out and sent him on his way with strict instructions to phone back to let her know that he was okay.
Fast forward a few hours and no phone call from P so she phoned the camp. They eventually tracked him down, safely in camp and watching a film with his friends. Apparently, as soon as he put the phone down after speaking to his mum he'd turned round and spotted some of his friends. It completely left his mind that he should phone his mum back and let her know that he was okay!!! She said she didn't know whether to laugh or cry!
Eileen,
DeleteThat's so funny! He did the same thing. Forgot to call once he found them. I made several phone calls and ended up tracking him down as well. lol. Kids! They just don't know what they put us through... :-)
April
I remember when Justin went on The Great Escape with the youth, I had to almost force him to go, he has always been that way......I won't have any fun, excuse after excuse. He lost his wallet the first or second day he was there. Thank the Lord for Pastor Paul, the banker, lol. It ended up being the most exciting thing he had ever done!!! He talked about it for months. He was glad I forced him to go.
ReplyDeleteCherie, Our phrase for that is "pushing them off the boat". I literally pushed my middle on off a boat to snorkel in Mexico because he was refusing to go and I didn't want him to miss out on such a rare experience. He thanked me shortly thereafter. :-) Sometimes, they just need that little push. :-)
DeleteApril