I'll be gone ten days
[email protected]
It's Sunday morning. Later today I'm going no-mail because we're going on a
family vacation, driving. I'll be back late the 8th, if all goes to schedule.
Trips like this scare me. I'm afraid of car trouble or accidents, or of a
kid being sick or wounded far from home. I like the feeling of being out and
seeing new things and being with other unschoolers (that's most of my focus this
time, while Kirby and Marty have a gaming focus, going to GenCon, and Holly
has a roller coaster focus, and Keith is our heroic and patient protector). I
like being with my family away from scattery schedules and distractions. But
packing and actually driving away is a stressful thing for me.
We have a housesitter one of the kids' friends. I didn't tell him I always
give the dog a snack at night. Cheese, or meat. I might forget. I didn't tell
him I turn the cat food over if it's getting dry overnight. It's not too
late to tell him.
This is one thing I don't want my kids to learn from me, this hesitation and
worry and fear. So I pretend courage, and I just ask them to help me
checklist the preparations. They're pretty good at that. It's one time I keep my
fears as secret as I can, though.
For people newish to this list, I thought I should make the reassurance that
I don't mind it sitting quiet for long stretches of time and then being busy.
And if anyone wishes it weren't so quiet, there are other busier lists and
some of them are listed with links here:
http://sandradodd.com/lists/other
All my kids are teens now and two of them drive. I remember family trips
where I had to fasten two kids' seatbelts every time we got back in the car. Now
I don't even have to pack for them. But they're willing to go on a family
vacation! I think many families with would find it difficult to impossible to
get happy agreement and cooperation from an 18 and 16 year old, so I do feel
good about that. Every nuclear family experience could be the last, I've been
thinking for two years now. There are no significant others or grandchildren
yet. I'm trying to imprint these days on my happy-memory mind.
I know some of you are still in the little-kids stage, and that's exhausting,
so this might not be something you can identify with at all. Someday,
though, you won't have to be the one to know where all the shoes and jackets are.
You won't have to pack a diaper bag or sippie cups. It seemed those days would
never end, but they did. The days we have now, it seems likely they could
end tomorrow. Age and perspective.
For those of you braver than I am, wish me some of your calm, please. It will
be snowing in Gallup, they say, and all my eggs will be in one basket. (It's
a Chevy conversion basket with a nice CD player and a bed in the back.
Still, I'm afraid.)
Sandra
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
family vacation, driving. I'll be back late the 8th, if all goes to schedule.
Trips like this scare me. I'm afraid of car trouble or accidents, or of a
kid being sick or wounded far from home. I like the feeling of being out and
seeing new things and being with other unschoolers (that's most of my focus this
time, while Kirby and Marty have a gaming focus, going to GenCon, and Holly
has a roller coaster focus, and Keith is our heroic and patient protector). I
like being with my family away from scattery schedules and distractions. But
packing and actually driving away is a stressful thing for me.
We have a housesitter one of the kids' friends. I didn't tell him I always
give the dog a snack at night. Cheese, or meat. I might forget. I didn't tell
him I turn the cat food over if it's getting dry overnight. It's not too
late to tell him.
This is one thing I don't want my kids to learn from me, this hesitation and
worry and fear. So I pretend courage, and I just ask them to help me
checklist the preparations. They're pretty good at that. It's one time I keep my
fears as secret as I can, though.
For people newish to this list, I thought I should make the reassurance that
I don't mind it sitting quiet for long stretches of time and then being busy.
And if anyone wishes it weren't so quiet, there are other busier lists and
some of them are listed with links here:
http://sandradodd.com/lists/other
All my kids are teens now and two of them drive. I remember family trips
where I had to fasten two kids' seatbelts every time we got back in the car. Now
I don't even have to pack for them. But they're willing to go on a family
vacation! I think many families with would find it difficult to impossible to
get happy agreement and cooperation from an 18 and 16 year old, so I do feel
good about that. Every nuclear family experience could be the last, I've been
thinking for two years now. There are no significant others or grandchildren
yet. I'm trying to imprint these days on my happy-memory mind.
I know some of you are still in the little-kids stage, and that's exhausting,
so this might not be something you can identify with at all. Someday,
though, you won't have to be the one to know where all the shoes and jackets are.
You won't have to pack a diaper bag or sippie cups. It seemed those days would
never end, but they did. The days we have now, it seems likely they could
end tomorrow. Age and perspective.
For those of you braver than I am, wish me some of your calm, please. It will
be snowing in Gallup, they say, and all my eggs will be in one basket. (It's
a Chevy conversion basket with a nice CD player and a bed in the back.
Still, I'm afraid.)
Sandra
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Angela S
I wish you a safe and enjoyable trip Sandra. Lots of deep breaths will get
you through your worried spells. If something does happen to your car, you
have brave Keith there to save the day and you all seem creative enough to
make the best out of any situation. Have fun! Leave a note about the
animals for your house sitter. Leave your phone number and instructions
that they can call for any reason, no matter how small. It'll make you feel
better. I understand your stress over the situation. I also hope I don't
pass that on to my kids.
Angela ~ Maine
game-enthusiast@...
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
you through your worried spells. If something does happen to your car, you
have brave Keith there to save the day and you all seem creative enough to
make the best out of any situation. Have fun! Leave a note about the
animals for your house sitter. Leave your phone number and instructions
that they can call for any reason, no matter how small. It'll make you feel
better. I understand your stress over the situation. I also hope I don't
pass that on to my kids.
Angela ~ Maine
game-enthusiast@...
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
Have fun Sandra!
I look forward to your family stories/experiences.
Sounds like one of those neat family trips that your kids will always
remember and tell their children or friends.
I keep thinking of that Willie Nelson song "On the road again"
Laura~Maine
********************************
<<For those of you braver than I am, wish me some of your calm, please. It
will
be snowing in Gallup, they say, and all my eggs will be in one basket.
(It's
a Chevy conversion basket with a nice CD player and a bed in the back.
Still, I'm afraid.)
Sandra>>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I look forward to your family stories/experiences.
Sounds like one of those neat family trips that your kids will always
remember and tell their children or friends.
I keep thinking of that Willie Nelson song "On the road again"
Laura~Maine
********************************
<<For those of you braver than I am, wish me some of your calm, please. It
will
be snowing in Gallup, they say, and all my eggs will be in one basket.
(It's
a Chevy conversion basket with a nice CD player and a bed in the back.
Still, I'm afraid.)
Sandra>>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]