Independence is a trait that I used to value more highly than I presently do. Being confident in who you are and carving out your own trail is the American way. Yet, to watch independence burst forth in your own child has turned out to be a whole different matter.
At the age of 3 my daughter was already comfortable spending days without Mom and Dad while visiting my parents who live over 600 miles away. Last year she was gone for over 23 days during one of these visits before I finally jumped in my car and made the long trip to retrieve my beautiful daughter.
"Why are you picking me up so soon Daddy?" was the loving reply I was met with.
Before leaving for her current visit she vowed to stay with Grandpa and Grandma for over 50 days. Only this time I had it from reliable sources that her Grandparents would crack way before that deadline. (This is quite likely considering she talks continually when she is awake and even sometimes when she's sleeping) But at such an early age is it natural to possess the ability to leave one's parents without breaking down and sobbing? Will I be waving through torrents of tears after she finishes the 5th grade and departs for 3 months of summer musical camp? In college will she make her own reservations on Google and then holler "Bye Dad" as she catches her bus to the airport? I can't imagine dropping my little girl off to attend college (if that is what she chooses to do) and I sure can't even comprehend a service where I'm supposed to willingly hand her over to someone else.
Before leaving for her current visit she vowed to stay with Grandpa and Grandma for over 50 days. Only this time I had it from reliable sources that her Grandparents would crack way before that deadline. (This is quite likely considering she talks continually when she is awake and even sometimes when she's sleeping) But at such an early age is it natural to possess the ability to leave one's parents without breaking down and sobbing? Will I be waving through torrents of tears after she finishes the 5th grade and departs for 3 months of summer musical camp? In college will she make her own reservations on Google and then holler "Bye Dad" as she catches her bus to the airport? I can't imagine dropping my little girl off to attend college (if that is what she chooses to do) and I sure can't even comprehend a service where I'm supposed to willingly hand her over to someone else.
Will she gaze at her video Ipod (With the engraved "Call Dad" on the back) and scroll lovingly through pictures of dear old Mom and Dad or will she delete our pictures to make room for pics of her new camp friends? When she is a teenager will we ever be able to spend time with her between trips to the mall and adventures with her new friends and her social network. Can you see why I'm so worried?
So if you're wondering why I just popped the lid off of a can of Play-Doh, and why I'm breathing deeply of the aroma of childhood, it's simply because I have a bad case of the Father-Missing-His-Daughter jitters. Pray that I don't pull her out of public school and start home schooling her this year. (Not that there's anything wrong with that [sic]) And you can bet that I'm taking all the pictures she can stand and treasuring all of the childhood moments that I can absorb.
So if you're wondering why I just popped the lid off of a can of Play-Doh, and why I'm breathing deeply of the aroma of childhood, it's simply because I have a bad case of the Father-Missing-His-Daughter jitters. Pray that I don't pull her out of public school and start home schooling her this year. (Not that there's anything wrong with that [sic]) And you can bet that I'm taking all the pictures she can stand and treasuring all of the childhood moments that I can absorb.
And vowing not to teach her how to drive. Or cook. Or balance her checkbook.
I'm betting I can prolong this adult thing for many, many years if I'm creative. But still when that day comes and she leaves our home for good, I hope I have enough Play-Doh stored up to get me through the remainder of my years here on earth.
Here's hoping the summer heat doesn't ruin the cases I've got stored in the garage.
