Children Growing Up

Yesterday was a sad day indeed…OK so maybe I’m being a little melodramatic, but in all honesty I was feeling a little depressed.  Caleb left for a 10-day holiday at his Dad’s in Katherine.  Caleb is only 8 and this is the first time he’s spent an extended period of time with his Dad without Grandma & Poppy there.  It’s also the first time Caleb has flown by himself….I believe Qantas call this an “unaccompanied minor”, which sounds so clinical.  In all the weeks/months leading up to the trip I was fine, I was excited in fact, both for Caleb and myself because I get a break as well.  Even driving to the airport was still fun and exciting, but when it came time to check Caleb in it all went downhill very fast. 

No one gave us clear guidance on what was to be done (as there’s special paperwork and protocol for “unaccompanied minors”), and I’m a person who likes clear guidance in unfamiliar situations.  This made me a little upset, but I soon got over it. 

Then came the time for good-byes, and the way I was feeling you would swear that my baby was going forever…the tears starting welling up in my eyes, so I dropped the sunnies back on to hide the emotion from Caleb, and that dreaded lump in the throat started to develop, making it hard to say what I needed to say without him realising that I was upset.  Finally, the flight attendant leads him down the gangway, having a chat the whole way….he didn’t even turn around to wave good-bye.  I know I just have to accept that he his growing up and knowing Caleb he was probably trying to chat up the lovely flight attendant….but it’s still hard to swallow.

For the rest of the day I was feeling blue….

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