"Wait how are you getting home? Do you have someone picking you up?"
"No mom, We left our cars across from the airport."
"OK then text when you land, when you're to your car and when you get home... And don't roll your eyes," I said as they started walking up to the security line at the airport.
"I'm not rolling my eyes." she shouted as she turned around and shot back a smile.
The mom to the left of me (approximately my age) chuckled. "I have the same conversation." A more senior woman a few feet to the right, smiled, nodded and said, "Just so you know...It doesn't ever stop and it doesn't get any easier."
For a split second, I realize that, although we know nothing else about each other, we are connected by a single three-letter word. MOM.
Our daughter Stefani had come in a few week-ends ago for her 28th birthday. WOW. 28 years ago God blessed us, and our lives were forever changed... for the better. At 18 she went to California for college, and well... never came home. She has been living and working in Orange County since graduation. She obviously gets up for work better than she used to get up for school. She is a Vice-President now. She must do laundry because I see her in clean clothes.
She hasn't run out of gas (that I know of) so she must be putting gas in her car. When she is in California she comes and goes as she pleases.
But somehow... Something changes when she crosses over the Arizona state line. She's my little girl again. It must not only happen to me, as both moms at the airport knew exactly how I felt.
Jeff and I watched her get through security and then we headed to the elevators. When we pushed the button a little girl ran up. Her mom shouted, "Wait ...Hold my hand...wait for me.” The little girl smiled and said, "No... I want to do it myself."
Now...for a split second I see Stefani at 5 years old. The mom smiles. "I'm so sorry" she says, as if she thinks we are upset. Jeff and I just smile. I know we are thinking the same thing. I think to myself, I should tell her... like the mom said to me, "It doesn't ever stop...doesn't get any easier.” But what I really want to say to her is, "It goes by so fast."
Because as I sit here typing out this story tears are streaming down my cheeks. It does go by sooooooo fast. You may hear that 1,000 times when you're a young mom, but it is so true.
I do get a text when she takes off. I do get a text when she lands. An hour goes by (she lives 10 min from the airport) and I text "home?" She say's "oh...ya ...sorry ..." I hopped in the shower and forgot to text." I text back, "No Worries," I mean she did text two out of the three times...and she is 28...but...still...it doesn't get any easier.
Welcome to mom2mom. A place we are all connected...by one little 3-letter word. MOM.
We Are Here For You,
Cheryl
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September 2013 Meeting Recap
Next meeting: October 17th
Build Relationship with Your Child - Link from Focus on the Family
Parenting is Heart Work classes click here for more info.
Stay tuned for upcoming info on mom2mom book club!