Tuesday, April 15, 2008

8 More Days

In 8 more days Ill be waving good-bye to my son for the next 2 years as he leaves to start his missionary service. We are - all of us - experiencing the multiple emotions you might expect. We're so excited for him! And we're really really going to miss him and miss having him be a regular part of our daily lives.

That's one thing they don't tell you about while they're encouraging you to work so hard to build a close knit family. Umm, they grow up and actually get lives of their own. And then they leave you. Which is really a lot better than if they stayed in your basement forever, but that break just seems counterintuitive - considering all the days I've spent having "forced family fun" encouraging our kids to spend time here - with us- for the past 20+ years.

But with his impending departure, I find my mothering instincts have kicked into overdrive. Nevermind that he has lived away from home for a year already. I've been dispensing sort of random information at the rate I think of it. And I can think pretty fast, people.

I'm sure it's starting to drive him nuts. Last night I knocked on his door to tell him goodnight, and also to tell him that eggs are a really great source of protein, that are pretty cheap and if you boil up a dozen of them, they'll keep in the fridge for like 2 weeks do you know how to boil eggs - let's just go over it real quick.
And he patiently stood there and listened while I described how to make hard boiled eggs for 5 or 10 minutes.

Before that it was a lecture on layering clothes. You know, because despite his being an Eagle scout, I'm sure he's never been on a campout in his life, and has never in all the time we've lived through Colorado winters, ever heard about layering clothes. I just keep thinking about how cold in those northern plains are. (A fact that I'm sure he has no concept of, having lived in Idaho last year and what not.)

This morning he's up, but hasn't come downstairs yet. (And seriously, can you blame him?) On my mental list of information to share:
  • Brushing your teeth still works, even if you're out of toothpaste
  • Since you type over 90 WPM, we expect your letters to have actual information about what you're doing and how things are going.
  • Bacon can be frozen. You don't have to eat the whole package at once.
  • Those "wrinkle free" shirts are only wrinkle free if you get them out of the dryer while they're still hot.
And hey, if you think of any sort of random "living on your own without being able to call home to ask a question" sort of advice that you think I may not have told him eleventy quillion times, toss it into the comments. I'm sure there are things I've forgotten, and I'll obviously rest easier knowing that there are hundreds of tens of minds working on this with me.

He's going to stay in his bedroom longer and longer every morning, isn't he?

31 comments:

Heather said...

Yes. You know since he wasn't sure on the whole egg boiling thing, you might want to start with boiling water.

Yvonne said...

I think of missionaries who have been in our home and things their moms probably taught them that they forgot like don't ever lick your knife ; ) He'll figure it all out--he's learned so much over the past 20 years, things you've taught without even realizing you've been teaching him.

As fast as the next 8 days will go, so will the next 2 years.

Paul said...

I feel for you. I would honestly be devastated if our son decided not to serve a mission - it just set the foundation for my entire life. But, assuming he does go, I am going to be a mess when it actually happens.

Welcome to life, I guess.

I still can't believe Buddy's old enough to go. It's alarming.

Does the song, "Julie Through the Glass" go through your head when you send your oldest on a mission? Just wondering.

Tori :) said...

Bless your heart.

Vern said...

you are so funny! hey, tell him that home improvement is for dummies, and that there are people, professionals even, who actually DO THE WORK FOR YOU if you will just pay them a little. and tell him it is worth it. and flossing adds years to your life.

Super Happy Girl said...

Don't forget to tell him to wear his jacket whne it's cold outside.

Oh, he also needs to remember to eat.

Super Happy Girl said...

You are a good mama :)
Thank you.

goddessdivine said...

Ok, are you going to be one of those mom's that's bawling through the entire MTC ordeal? You'll love it. You go out one door, your missionary goes through the other. My mom bawled at mine, I was bawling....good times. (I was totally fine once that was over. Holy cow it's so emotional and dramatic).

And don't worry about your son. Members do such a good job of taking care of missionaries. He'll be in good hands.

Earl and Vickie said...

You talk about missing him as part of your family. In a funny kind of way you will find that you are closer to him. Sure, there's the not seeing kind of being away, but the whole missionary service thing will bless his life, and your whole family in ways you can't even imagine. Chin up.

Anonymous said...

I would stay in my room if I was going on a mission in a week. Got to stock up on sleep since he won't for the next 2 years!! ;)

And I had no idea about the wrinkle free shirts and I am almost 22. Yeah. I pulled my husband's "wrinkle free" shirt out of the dryer the other day and it was all wrinkly and I was like FALSE ADVERTISING OH MY GOSH SUEEEE!! and then I read this. Oh. Crap. Well that's too bad, looks like DH will never have non wrinkly clothes unless he irons them. Poor guy.

Stacey said...

Awww,what a nice mom you are! I'm sure he appreciates the advice,it just shows how much you love him. :D

Corrine said...

tell him that just because he can, don't wear the same tie his whole mission.

Busy Bee Lauren said...

This post was actually really beneficial to me...since I will be moving out for the first time in September.

You are a good mom! The two years really will fly by..

Guess who else leaves in 8 days...
Ted :(

Janell said...

"I find my mothering instincts have kicked into overdrive. Nevermind that he has lived away from home for a year already."

The difference now is that before you were always just a phone call away and you could intervene easily if something should go awry. Now? You're isolated and you can only instruct him on why not to mix bleach and ammonia when cleaning through emails and the biannual phone call. It's isolation for the mother just as much for the son.

Marilyn said...

As the mom of a boy who just passed hump day-I am SHOCKED at how fast the time flew...Hang in there mommy....it is amazing how much they grow up and they handle things. My first boy chose not to go on a mission and believe me, the heartache of sending them off is WAY easier than the alternative...I guess the hardest thing for me was not being able to call when he got there and hear him say-hey mom, I made it-I'm fine.

mindyluwho said...

I have three years to go before my oldest son is ready...I imagine time will fly by and I will be where you are before I know it!

Tell him raw hamburger only lasts a couple of days in the fridge. A friend's son and his roommates used to buy a big package of hamburger from Costco and just pull a bit off when they wanted. They'd keep it up to two or three weeks...

Lena said...

Hey- you will be okay and so will he. There will be some mom missing her missionary that will be looking out for yours. Does he know how to cook rice? Has he got fingernail clippers? Chapstick? Vitamins? He'll do just fine- and so will you. I can say that because my oldest boy is only 7! I expect you to visit my blog in 12 years and let me know how fast it all went.

Lynell said...

Great blog. I am so happy for you. What an exciting and scary time. My son actually got his mission call last October and then decided not to go. Pretty heartbreaking. But, you wouldn't want them to go if they weren't ready. How wonderful that your son is. Ü

Babzanne Barker said...

I'm so happy for you Randi! You can't imagine how great it is to get those letters every week. I love what Lena said about some mom missing her missionary son who will look after yours. You'll find that you suddenly do love all those other missionaries that you sign up to feed because they'll remind you of Brandon (oops Buddy, sorry!) And you'll gladly feed and help them, knowing that someone else will be doing the same things for your own missionary. One thing though, even though some have said otherwise, I found two years only goes by fast when its someone else's son. :)

Tonya said...

As I look over at my 5 year old son, I can't even imagine letting him go away from me for 2 years. I know you are supposed to and I will but I'm just saying..

He's so blessed to have such a good mama. Keep that advice coming. He'll treasure it the next 2 years.

Pedaling said...

you are so funny- and yes, he probably is counting the days till he's done with the mom craziness and also with everyone and their dog asking him if he's excited.

Nancy Face said...

My son's two years went by quickly for me, and I really didn't expect that! The weekly emails are such a happy event to look forward to, and they make the time fly by! :)

Make sure he knows that suits must be dry cleaned, not thrown in the washer with the rest of the darks! My friend's son found out the hard way...right at the beginning of his mission! :0

The Wiz said...

Wrinkle free stuff will return to wrinkle free if you throw them back in the dryer with a damp hand towel for a few minutes. Helps with regular stuff too.

Paul said...

Unfortunately, a missionary has neither a readily-available dryer ("Dude, we could just wear our clothes one more week instead of hanging out at the laundromat half of our P-Day - let's play basketball!") or a hand towel ("What, you mean like my pants?") with which to go about that suggestion.

It's good advice for the rest of us, though.

Heidi said...

Good luck! Make sure you tell him that if he ever runs out of toilet paper, the yellow pages are a good alternative, too!

Unknown said...

hi sweetie,

really happy for your family and your guy! just awesome.

blessings, kathleeny :)

Anonymous said...

I have known a lot of missionaries. The best advice I can give you to give him is: Don't start cooking food, and then leave for a 4 hour appointment. You have to finish cooking AND turn off the stove before you leave or else your entire apartment and its contents will smell like burnt food. If this does happen, running your clothes through the dryer with a Bounce sheet does NOT count as cleaning them. *true experience* LOL

Paul said...

Hi Randi and family,

I was just thinking about you all today. I hope preparations are done, and you're all comforted in knowing what a great decision it is for Buddy to serve. It will truly lay a foundation upon which he'll build his life.

That said, I think it's got to be painful for those he leaves at home.

I hope you'll enjoy your last day with him, and feel pride for parenting him to where he's chosen to go.

KellyLady said...

My friend and I were talking about this the other day...wondering if we will ever be able to teach our children all that they need to know...and ours are still 14 years away from a mission. (ok, we're a couple of control freaks and can be a little neurotic.) So when she sent me a link to here I had to giggle and sigh with relief that it's not just us! Good luck and if you have any tips on raising sons who want to go on a mission please feel free to embark your wisdom!

Anonymous said...

My son's mission was tough, but if you're anything like me, you'll relish the letters he sends home. I kept all of his letters, both to me personally and to the family, as well as printing off all the copies of my own letters. Now they're all tucked away in his scrapbook for me and him to look at anytime. Made the 2 years fly by!

Dave said...

I want more details about how to cook those eggs. cause if it takes you 5 minutes to explain it, i'm doing something wrong.