Today was one of those momentous days in parenting. I’ve spent nearly 18 years trying to teach Boo to be a responsible, independent person, and tomorrow she’ll be starting a six week dry run of taking care of herself with minimal supervision in a big city on the other side of the continent from where I will be.
During this last day, I’ve realized how many little things I still haven’t taught her. She knows how to do laundry, but until today, she had never been to a coin operated laundromat. She knows how to use an ATM, but didn’t know how to open the security door to the ATM centers they often have in big cities. She didn’t know how to swipe a credit card or use a chip reader. She’s learned how to take the Subway and how to reload a Metro card. We’ve talked about what’s safe to do alone and when she really needs to make sure that she has someone with her. We’ve talked about not being afraid to ask for help or to tell other people about your problems. We’ve talked about how if she doesn’t like her program or is homesick, this is only six weeks of what will likely be a very long life. I’m sure there are a million other things I haven’t taught her, but I just have to trust that I’ve taught her well enough that she’ll be able to figure those things out on her own.
And now, as I’m sitting here fretting over what I haven’t done to prepare her and feeling the weight of this bittersweet moment, I’m trying to remind myself that it’s only six weeks.
This time.
Next up — Finale
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Her life will be filled with fun and the thoughts of her future for the next six weeks. You need to plan on keeping yourself busy. I think I got more down in the dumps than William ever did.
Seems like you have most of the bases covered. Plus, there is probably a show tune that covers anything else that might come up.
Ok, does she know how to write a check? Because apparently, not knowing is a thing. Personal experience.
Oh, God! Another thing to add to the list.