It wasn't that we didn't want to bring him, it was just so impractical. We would be there two nights and one night would be a very late, very adult wedding. So, our options were to bring him and leave him with somebody who he has never met (something our shy guy isn't very comfortable with) during the wedding, or to leave him with some people who love him to pieces but repeatedly give him ice cream. For all three meals. We opted for latter.
This trip did not sneak up on us and I was ready. People would ask how I was feeling about it and I said I was ready. I was. I wasn't ready as in I SO NEED A BREAK, but I was ready as in I knew it was only two nights, he no longer needs me like he used to, and he would have a wonderful time without us. As we boarded the plane, I was fine. We sat down, and I was fine. The plane started to back away, and I found myself in a puddle of tears and sniffles. Where was this coming from?? The poor man next to me barely spoke English, so I am sure he thought something dreadful was going on, but really I was just a confused girl sitting next to him who couldn't turn the waterworks off.
Seattle turned out to be great and Chris and I did a lot of things that Austin might not have been able to do. Kayaking in a two person kayak for starters. Staying out until 1 and 2 in the morning for others. That city is great and one I hope to go back to.
Sunday rolled around and I was READY to get back home. Somehow I made myself enjoy sleeping in. I made myself choke down the nice breakfast out, and I made myself relax as we perused the shops at the airport. The whole car ride home I was practically giddy. We pulled into the neighborhood and my dad had walked Austin to the entrance of it so we pulled over and I was out of the car before it stopped moving. Austin didn't even look at me. He was busy reaching for Chris who was still parking the car. He went back and forth between my dad and Chris as happy as he could be. I, on the other hand had sprouted a waterfall out of each eye. We got home and I composed myself. Finally, it was as if Austin said, "Ok mom, you have learned your lesson" and came and gave me a big hug.
Since then, we have had many hugs as he has learned that word. He gives them to me, oh, maybe 62 times per day. We haven't really stopped playing, and I don't intend to either. As I have booked our next two trips, one to Oregon and one to Mexico, I smile as I think about the plane ride I will be inevitably stressed about as Austin will be with me.
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