3.09.2014

#SOL14 - Growing Pains



I'm sitting on the couch, listening to the Husband talk about the shelves he just built in the garage. My phone buzzes; I look down to see that my oldest son has texted me.

It's the weekend, when he typically hermits himself away with his friends, so I'm surprised.

"Just a sec," I tell the Husband, holding my phone up to show him I have a text.

I slide my finger across the screen and tap open the text. As I read, my chest tightens. The Husband is still talking. I shake my head at him.

"No, wait" I say, my eyes fixating on my phone.

He's been in a car accident. The other guy was on a motorcycle. No helmet.

The images that cloud my brain are ugly.

The texts continue. I'm wishing he had called instead.

It wasn't his fault; the guy ran into him while trying to pass him. He's fine, just shaken up. The other guy was bleeding from the back of his head, but it wasn't a serious injury.

He says it all happened more than thirty minutes ago. He was just texting to let me know, but he took care of everything himself.

We exchange a few more texts, and I let him go, knowing we'll talk later.

The ugly images clear a little, but not by much. This is an unwelcome reminder that my little boys are out roaming the world without me now, that I can't fix everything anymore -- that ever thinking I could fix it all was a silly ruse I played on myself.

But it is also a welcome reminder. They don't need me to fix it all, and that's a good thing.

6 comments:

  1. Wow, definitely a scary text. How comforting that he was able to take care of everything himself. They grow up, and it's wonderful to see their growing independence.

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  2. Letting our kids grow up just might be one of the hardest parts of parenting. I got one of those texts as well tonight, so I can only imagine the panic you must've been feeling.

    It sounds like you've done a great job with him. He took care of everything and then let you know. I'm so glad nobody was seriously hurt. Hang tight Mama...

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  3. Ugh... I'm not looking forward to those steps of letting go. I'm just trying to deal with getting a tween up the day after Daylight Savings.

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  4. Very scary but lots of good news despite that. Independent. Problem solver. Grown up. All those things we're scared because it means we have to let go.

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  5. Kelly,
    What a scary text! I'm glad everyone is ok. These words really caught my attention, "that I can't fix everything anymore -- that ever thinking I could fix it all was a silly ruse I played on myself." Having kids in about the same age range, I know just what you mean.

    Cathy

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