Bye Bye
Saturday morning, Mom and Dad headed back home to Edisto with Riley in tow. Once a year, each of our children is blessed with the opportunity to spend their own solo week at Mom and Dad’s house. The December-January track out is always “Riley’s turn” to be on her own with Grandma and Papa. She was so excited about the visit that she packed Friday night and remained two steps behind Grandma at every turn Saturday before they left. We were sad to see them go. Christmas is always such a fantastic time for all of us, and having Mom and Dad with us is a tremendous blessing. We wouldn’t trade the memories we share with them.
I am usually a little bit emotional when Mom and Dad leave. It’s part of my nature to wish that I could surround myself with all the people I love and keep them in close proximity all the time. I was doing fairly well this time, thinking that I’d see them in less than a week for our annual “Killen Christmas” at their house. Then Adam trudged out the door behind them, obviously planning to tag along for the trip. As this was “Riley’s week,” I called him back to me. He returned reluctantly, looking significantly back at Mom and Dad, telling me with his eyes that he wanted to go with them. I hugged him close and explained again that it was Riley’s turn to go by herself, promising my sweet son that we’d be going to Grandma and Papa’s house ourselves in just a few days.
Adam reached up and blew my mom a kiss. “Bye Bye, Grandma!” He waved to her, and I lost it. It wasn’t just that I heard the clear throaty sound of reluctance in his voice. More than that (and that alone had touched me deeply), Adam had communicated exactly what he felt in a completely appropriate way, without my encouragement. “Bye Bye, Papa!” He called after them. When the Volvo turned the corner and we lost sight of them, I took Adam into the house and showed him the calendar. We counted the days until our trip to Edisto. All of a sudden, Adam turned and realized his Opa was still in the living room. “Opa!” He said with delight. “Hello, Opa!” I knew what he was thinking. He was so sad that Mom and Dad had gone home, and so happy that Opa had not. Opa took his cue and spent a while reading to Adam, who happily settled into his lap.
My son has turned a corner!!! Laugh along with me, and weep. I am doing both.
