I have set a brand new "personal worst" for mothering and it's public confession time.
But first, some background information ...
This is my cute Chase on the morning of June 29th at 4:15 a.m. right before I drove him to the airport so he could fly to Baltimore for a 10-day Outward Bound adventure with 10 other middle-school students enrolled in expeditionary schools.
I decided that while Chase was away I would give his bedroom a make-over and enlisted the help of primarily Clark (head painter) and Taft (assistant interior designer.) We have been busy most evenings making progress. Unfortunately, I did not take any before or in-process photos. Here are two pics I snapped back in March in an effort to document the teenage mess in my home.
Perhaps you can get the "lay of the land" from these. You need to know that Clark moved downstairs to the guest room mid June and so the timing for a refresh was perfect.
and yes, I'm getting to my most embarrassing "mother of the year" moment.
So, yesterday ... knowing that Chase comes home tonight and with just one day left to wrap the project up, I tucked the kids into bed and headed to Walmart for some final purchases. As I was checking out, my phone rang, but only two times. Odd, I thought, because it was 10:30pm; Clark was out with friends and my husband was likely in bed. I loaded the car, and was anxious to start driving as I was listening to a really good podcast (more on that later) I drove home and started unloading when my phone rang again -- twice. I looked down to see that Chase had called. Very Odd, I thought ... how could Chase call? The students' cell phones were taken away when the arrived in Baltimore and wouldn't be given back until travel day. Hmmm? I quickly called the number back, but only got the message. I was just about to go tell Geoff when the phone rang again (in my hand) so I quickly answered it.
"Mom?"
"Chase -- where are you, are you OK?"
"Mom? Can you come pick me up?"
"Honey, where are you?"
"I'm in Spokane, at the airport."
... as the connection dies.
OH MY GOSH.
All day long I had this feeling that I should print Chase's intinerary ... but I kept telling myself that I would in the morning -- after all, I thought, he isn't coming home until tomorrow!
OK, so if you haven't figured it out yet, MY CHILD WAS GONE TEN DAYS AND NO ONE WAS AT THE AIRPORT TO PICK HIM UP WHEN HE GOT HOME!!
As it turns out his cell phone barely had a charge and he was turning it off and then back on in an attempt to make calls home. I frantically ran into the bedroom, woke Geoff up and sent him to the airport. Trey was sleeping over at a friends house and Clark was still gone. I couldn't even go with him. The good news is, Clark came home minutes later and together we did what we could to put some finishing touches on our makeover project.
We aren't done yet, but ... when Chase arrived home (after lots of HUGS and tears) there was evidence that we were in fact thinking of him and that we MISSED him terribly!
We set him up with a sleeping bed and a reading corner/bed and we just need to do new blinds/drapes, find a cool round rug and finish hanging a few things. We cleared everything out, purged, sorted and labeled drawers and essentially got him ready for high school.
Cute Tafty had the "Go clean up your room!" plan that would send Chase upstairs to find his surprise. Luckily he had made the sign before he went to bed, so it was already in place. The P.S. says "I did it for you!"
We launched the recovery plan this morning, when we woke Chase up and fed him a yummy breakfast of pancakes with sprinkles.
Chase, we LOVE YOU and we are so happy you are home. Mom is sorry that I forgot you at the airport and we promise to be extra good to you for at least three whole days!!
and there you have it. My "Mother of the Year" confession. Would love to hear if anyone has ever done something like this before, or if I do in fact, get the prize!
