enjoying the bittersweetness of waving my DC off on a school trip?

[ChaosTrulyReigns]

I did it for my big one and I'll do it tomorrow for my second one.

Drive back to school at lunchtime to watch them load and go off for a 3 day trip?

Wait till the coach is out of sight before going back to my day wiping happy/saddy tears away from my face.

AIBU to enjoy, nay, positive indulge, myself in these significant momnets?

I have visions of lines of weeping mothers being held back by crowd control barriers as their children are loaded, prodded and herded by teachers wielding 2-colour marking biros, on to a phalanx of grimy trucks, before being carted off to maximum security Stalag Luft SchoolCamp.

The pitiful wailing of the helpless parents hangs hauntingly in the summer air; the tear-streaked faces of the reluctant offspring etched into their etc. etc. etc.

No, you are not being U, dearest Chaos. Your child will be fine and will probably only cry for an hour or two, huddled in their barrack bunk, rocking and clutching a scrap of rag that smells of home.

Have just waved DS1 (12) off. He is going to Germany til Friday. He has been gone 1 1/2 hours. I feel bereft.

YANBU if we can't indulge our emotions once in a while we'd explode.

Your dc will be fine btw.

If I didn't feel like this I would be worried TBH TheOne. It's what parents do isn't it?

I remember the first time ds1 went abroad on a school trip. He was 13. We'd loaded him up with credit so he could ring us and let us know how it was going.

We heard nothing all week! I had to go with the hope that school would ring me if there was a problem.

At the airport picking him up afterwards none of the boys had rung their mums and only a handful of the girls.

I was on edge the whole week but he had a ball and never missed me once.

I didn't cry when DD went off on her 5-day/4-night school trip earlier this year. I had a very busy week shopping clearing my backlog and lunching seeing friends. It was very nice!

Oh I bloody love it when the DC are away on a school trip.

I thibk our lives are just so full on and my responsibilities so consuming, I enjoy the break. DH looks into their rooms at night with a folorn face...but he's not the one doing school runs etc .

I have closed the door on his bedroom. But before he gets back there will be major cleaning of it, vaccing under bed etc. Just not today.

DS2 (10) says he is looking forward to having FIFA 12 to himself but I know he will have the face on tonight.

I agree, wordfactory. I don't feel sad or guilty or anything!

DD and DSS2 are going to the US to a summer camp for three weeks this July/August. DP and I can't wait! (and we are going to a tiny Mediterranean island all on our own ).

Ooh, very very envious.

What are you doing with DS1?

DSS1 is going to work in a Lacoste boutique for three weeks (his choice! we would have happily paid for camp or whatever else he wanted). He will be with his mother for the first half and then will come to us when we get back from our ten-day escape!

All sorted then .

DH and I used to go away (just a long weekend mind you) at least once per year. But grand parents are just getting too old now. Sigh.

Up until now we have always managed to leave DD with my parents for a few days during the summer holidays when the DSSs were with their mother, but a whole week with my parents is a little long now for DD who is increasingly active as they slow down. She is really looking forward to the summer camp - she feels very grown up to be taking the plane to Boston with her brother!

I skipped home when my DDs went on theirs is that bad

I know a mum who was' just passing' the adventure centre and visited on the 2nd day , JUST PASSING it is int he middle of nowhere

She's gone.

But I have notced my Tweezmans are missing.

[grr]

Chaos. I have had a text saying DS was on the M25.

Just seen your post Mrsjay.

I was on the beach 120miles from home on my outward bound course when I spotted my DM and DF watching the group from the seawall!

We did have holiday home half a mile from the centre, but stil!

oh sparkling you are going to be all week we are going to have to have a silly thread for all those with children away

Sparkling, perhaps we can comfort each other with red wine and inanities tonight?

Virtually.

Obvis.

oh did you wave to them chaos My dds would have died if i had turned up because i was 'just passing'

Oooh good idea Chaos.

Mrsjay it's going to be a long week.

we will be around

By some happy coincidence, DS's Y7 trip to Germany and DD1's Y6 trip to France are at the same time.

DH and I are already planning cinema trips, dinners for two, peace and quiet.....

----oh no, wait. Still got DD2. Damn.