Yep, today is another day when I send a child off to a far away land, out of reach and out of my control.
Daughter No. 1 leaves for Dijon, France today where she will spend nearly two months studying French as part of a college program. She will fly by herself. She will take the train by herself. She will move into her dorm by herself. She will feed herself, explore her new surroundings by herself, be in France by herself.
I keep telling myself, "she's a big girl. she's a big girl. she's a big girl." But I keep seeing the little toddler who used to sit in her crib late at night asking me to sing songs to her as she drifted off to sleep, slipping her hand between the bars to feel her mother beside her.
Daughter No. 2 is still in Australia and will not return home until late Monday evening, so for the next three days, my children will be in other countries. Have they no idea what this does to their mother?
Big news, though--later in July, during the weekend of No. 1's birthday, we'll all be in Paris experiencing a jaunty vacation and a little reunion. More on that later. Bon jour.
Daughter No. 1 leaves for Dijon, France today where she will spend nearly two months studying French as part of a college program. She will fly by herself. She will take the train by herself. She will move into her dorm by herself. She will feed herself, explore her new surroundings by herself, be in France by herself.
I keep telling myself, "she's a big girl. she's a big girl. she's a big girl." But I keep seeing the little toddler who used to sit in her crib late at night asking me to sing songs to her as she drifted off to sleep, slipping her hand between the bars to feel her mother beside her.
Daughter No. 2 is still in Australia and will not return home until late Monday evening, so for the next three days, my children will be in other countries. Have they no idea what this does to their mother?
Big news, though--later in July, during the weekend of No. 1's birthday, we'll all be in Paris experiencing a jaunty vacation and a little reunion. More on that later. Bon jour.
Comments
"Dijon, France".
Only Americans say that. Like you say "Venice, Italy" and "London, England", as if we'd think you meaqnt Venice Beach (God forbid) …
Hey ho … just a bugbear of mine.
Anyway, Daughter no.1 IS a big girl now, Robyn; a champion rower and all round smart cookie who will have a brilliant time in France. Just make sure you meet her in Paris, France and not Paris, Texas (OW).
Dive, OK Mr. Smartass from the UK. Not everyone here is familiar with Dijon, so I thought I should clarify. I'm pretty sure our plane tickets are for FRANCE, but I'll make sure they aren't for Idaho, Kentucky, Illinois, or Arkansas. That would be quite disappointing.
Enjoy every single minute of it!
How long will you be there?
WOW!
WHEN, Robyn?
We simply must meet up for lunch or a museum, or even just for a blog photo or for you to hit me for the "Dijon, France" thing.
Dive, yes, your very own city will be host to my family, including my mother-in-law (I like my mother-in-law). We'll at least need a blog photo as proof.
Your child will be fine. They both will. What a lovely thing to travel like that. I never left the U.S until I was in my late 30's....What a wonderful experience you are providing for her.
And, um...Dive? My first trip was to London, England. Not to be confused with London, Idaho....:)
I'm sure everything will be fine and that you will have some nice time together in Paris soon (where I live).
(I of course looked a bit on your blog now. Nice and interesting!)
Let me know when and where and I'll be there. Give me a week's notice so I can take time off.
Woohoo!