It’s apparent you’re a parent

Many of you will nod and smile at this, but just when you think your children have grown up enough to stop being a challenge, they throw a wrench into the works. If you’re a parent, you never stop being a parent. Why do we, as parents, forget this? Raise your hand if you’ve ever been lulled into a false sense of empty-nest warm and fuzzies.

LOML and I spent the past weekend with some of our children and our neighbourhood kids. We enjoyed the beautiful weather, caught up on their lives, had a bonfire and shared a glass or two of wine. We have a lot of kids we consider to be part of our family. It’s just the way it is. As a columnist, I have shared many of the ups and downs of our family’s life, as we know it and as it has happened. Many of you have been very kind and supportive when we’ve experienced the tough times. And had a good laugh with us during the good times. Well, we are having a tough time right now. YCOM is scheduled to have surgery on Thursday. It’s one of those medical calls that could have a really good outcome, or not so much. Her wife has been granted leave from the field at CFB Shiloh. LOML and I are making arrangements to get from Prince Edward County to Shiloh, Manitoba. As youngest grandfriend/child said, with regard to where Shiloh is on the map, “Look Theresa, it’s only this far away.” She had measured the distance with her tiny fingers to offer some comfort to us. Oh, Google Maps! You make the world seem like such a small place. Right now, YCOM needs her parents and is too far away, but only “this” far online.

If LOML and I were only dealing with the issues of one child, we’d be laughing (well, sort of) all the way to the airport for ourflight from Toronto to Calgary, where we change planes and then double back to Brandon. It’s only this far on the map, we’ve been told. But, as it turns out, our Burlington child is dealing with a back injury from a fall, and a very good friend/sister- type has just had brain surgery. Well, it never rains but it pours around our family’s porch.

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not looking for a pat on the head or sympathies from anyone. I know a lot of you have dealt with much worse. But I am just wondering if it would be possible to get the grand organizer to have our traumatic events spaced out a bit. You know what I mean. Maybe one problem at the beginning of the month, to be completely resolved by pension cheque day. Then, perhaps a break of a month, or even two months, and the next event can be tossed our way. I know I can deal with problems, no problem, if they’re this far apart. But, when they’re only “this far away”, I get tense—and I’m not a pretty sight when I’m tense.

I have learned in my 40-plus years as a mom, my family requires a parent, or two, with a cast iron constitution, a sense of humour and a willingness to travel. LOML and I are still in parental unit mode and we still deal with COM—children of mine. So in the next few days we’ll be going “this far” from the County to be “this close” to our youngest and her wife. The local FOM—family of mine—will be in charge of everything that happens “this far away” from my porch. Oh, Google, you make it all look so easy because you don’t have COYO—children of your own.

theresa@wellingtontimes.ca