I received the call at the end of the school day on Friday.
“Mom, can you pick me up
at the Y about 6:00? I’ll text you when I’m ready. Oh, and I’m staying with you this weekend. See ya.”
I looked at my phone. Did I hear him properly?
Was I going to spend an entire
weekend with the son I hadn’t spent time with for almost a year? (Well, I DO get to see him every other evening when he calls
me to pick him up from the Y and take him to his dad’s house. We chat for the
five-minute drive and I get one or two word answers. He slams my car door shut as he walks towards our old house
and I shout, “I LOVE YOU!” to him each time as he walks down the driveway and
into the house. He may or may not respond,
but I shout it anyway. Each time I pull out of the driveway I wipe a tear
or two from my eyes as my heart breaks.)
And while we’re supposed
to spend every other weekend together, it hasn’t happened; at least until now.
I smiled uncontrollably and practically floated out of
school Friday afternoon. I ran to
the grocery store and stocked up on whatever I thought a growing almost 15-year
old rugby player might want. And then some.
And then I waited in the parking lot at the Y.
I watched him walk towards my car, thinking again about how
fast young boys grow. “Could he
get any taller?” I wondered. I glanced at him many times as we made the drive to the
house and noticed the stubble all over his face.
“Mom, STOP looking at me,” he snarled. We bantered back and forth, smiles and laughter making their way into the conversation.
We spent the weekend in an easy, comfortable rhythm that I
had feared was lost. I was determined to enjoy the moment, and decided that it needed to feel as if we were still living in the same home. And as
I chauffeured him from this store to that store, and from basketball to rugby,
I felt at peace; at least for a moment.
I dropped him off tonight at the old house and as he
slammed the door shut I shouted, “I love you!” as he walked away.
And this time as I drove away there were no tears.
This time I smiled.
18 comments:
smiles. so very cool
i hope you get to do it again
soon.
So glad to hear it!
Pam
Rips at my heart! Can you begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel? You're doing the right thing because he knows he is loved...and isn't that the most important.
Yay!
So happy for you VM!
I am so thrilled for you! I really, really am
Oh, VM, I'm so happy for you! I bet this will keep you afloat all week!
Sounds like a wonderful weekend! Hopefully more to come :)
Awwwwww. Well, now I have tears!
When I got a divorce, my son was about your son's age. He was supposed to live with me. He didn't, moved into his Dad's where he had no supervision. It really was a difficult time. And now, I barely remember those days. We are so close, we work together, he's married with two little girls. Life is good. Time is always the best when it comes to healing the heart.
Take care,
Sue
every time he slams that door, he is saying, "I love you too, mom, now stop looking at me!" :-)
Who could ask for a better weekend? This made my heart happy for you.
:)
My kids live with their father and my tie with them is very limited unfortunately. The time that I do have with them and drop them off with their dad, I too drive away with tears. When I connect with my oldest though, those are the good days that I drive away with a smile. This is giving me hope that things will get better with time. I'm so happy for you!!
Makes me want to cry (in the good way AND the ad way.)
Rock on Martini Mom.
So awesome!!!!!! Yay <3
:D !!
The stubble all over the face part is what kills me. And the "I decided to start shaving".
Hugs!
So, so happy to read this! 15 years old?! Oh wow! How the years have flown!
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