I sent a book to the son of some friends for Christmas. The book is called “How Far Does a Rubber Band Stretch” and it was one of my son’s favorites when he was little. The story is about a little boy who decides to see how far a rubber band can stretch and so he hooks it around his bedpost and heads out the door. He takes various modes of transportation including a ship across the ocean, an airplane, and ultimately a rocket. The rocket lands on the moon and as he steps out the door there is a loud BOING as the rubber band finally snaps.
If you have ever had a child move out on their own for the first time, you know that the story lies. A rubber band stretches from your child all the way to our heart, no matter how far they travel.
Tonight as I wait for the front door to open and close and the tv to go on in the room across the hall I feel the tug of the rubber band and while my head knows I won’t be hearing those sounds – my heart is still going to listen.
Yep. My rubber band stretches as far as Alabama tonight.
Oh yeah. Letting them stretch that rubber band into another city for longer than a weekend is tough. I know exactly how you feel, but I promise that it gets better. Remember that going to college out of town is not as permanent as being married with a child and working full-time and living almost 5 hours away. It’s a good thing that we get to practice that stretch for a while before becomes permanent. You’ll make it and so will he. The trips home become very special.
Ok, I am trying to keep down the huge lump in my throat. I hope there are several practice runs before it becomes permanent. Seeing him at this age makes it hard to comprehend that some day the inevitable will happen and Tony and I will be empty nesters. Thanks again for the book, Dee. Matthew loves the B-O-I-N-G from space that lands him back in bed. You are a sweet and thoughtful friend.
That’s why you shouldn’t feel like you are “jobless” – I stayed at home for ten years and it was very hard sometimes when money was tight, to not feel like I should be working outside the home; we hung in there and I think it made a big difference in our kids lives. See you soon in Austin!