11,667 miles is how far my first-born is away from me at the moment. 11,667 miles. It doesn’t sound a lot if you say it really quickly. It’s not that far is it? Just under half the circumference of the whole world. Okay, that sounds quite far away. Damn you Google with your clever numbers.
He is travelling around New Zealand something that makes me incredibly proud. He has been there for a month now and I am only writing about it now as I haven’t been able to up until now. I have been in a sort of parental denial; a limbo of knowing that he has gone, but trying not to hard to think about it and pretending that he is still down the road.
It’s funny how you can do that and you expect to see them or at least signs of them around. I thought I saw his car the other day and then it hit me that It couldn’t be his car. In fact, he sold his car. I drive past his old work place regularly and I think I will pop in and see if he’s working, then I remember that he isn’t working.
We didn’t see him all of the time anyway; he is always working or playing rugby, spending time with friends or sleeping. So for the first week or so it didn’t feel so different. I told myself with a resigned sigh that six months will fly by. It will fly by of course and I know that in August, when we are preparing for his return, it probably will only seem like a few weeks ago that we were saying our farewells.
Then I remind myself how long it is until August and that number is there again; 11,667. It seems so very far away. Too far to jump in a car and go and see him. Too far to even be able to take the time to visit.
There are emails and I read them and reread them. After an initial wobble when the reality hit him of life on the other side of the world, on his own, he is having a ball. White water rafting, helicopter flights, walking across glaciers to name but a few things he has mentioned and I am so glad that he is having such a fantastic experience. These are character building days and I know that this is a time that he will always look back on and be glad that he took the opportunity with both hands when he could.
11,667 miles is a long way away but he is still and always will be my baby and so wherever he is and wherever he will be, a piece of him is always right here.
Ooh my heart felt
Hugs x
Always your baby
Yes he will be (even though he is taller than me)
What a beautiful post. Reading this, I feel both happy and sad for you. You must be so proud of him for what he is doing, but you must miss him! Going away to another country is fairly high on my list of things I don’t want my kids to do!
Sarah MumofThree World recently posted…The ballet show 2015
Thank you, I am so proud of him but I know that it is such a fantastic experience for him
It’s hardly surprising that you feel mixed emotions about your son being so far from home. Stay strong lovely x
Izzie Anderton recently posted…The Box
It is mixed but I am glad he has gone as it will be such an amazing experience for him
Oh, I just can’t imagine how I’ll feel if my boys do the same. My heart aches at the thought. I studied in La Reunion in the Indian Ocean when I was 20 for about 6ish months. I was the worst daughter ever because I didn’t write home and probably only rang twice during the entire time I was there. No email, mobiles, Skype, etc, then either. I’d be living if that was my child. Eek!
Rachel @ The Ordinary Lovely recently posted…Changes and changing rooms
Such an amazing experience though and I bet you had the most amazing time. Yes email and Skype do make it easier now although he emails once a week and we have had one FaceTime conversation in a month. I’m happy though that he is okay and enjoying the experience and I am sure the six months will fly by