Letting Go, Is It Ever Easy?

   So I have four great kids of my own and three great step children. My oldest will be 29 this year so it’s not like I’m new at parenting  but some days it feels that way.  My youngest is 13 and I just put him on the Greyound Bus bound for Portland to spend spring break with his older brother.  I had his older brother from LA talk to him about being safe.  Oh and he is 6 feet tall so it’s not like he’s a little guy that people will pick on.  It was 2:30 in the morning so I may not have been thinking clearly, but here was  my conversation with him on the way to the bus station:

•  I told him sit in the front.   
•  I told him not to get off the bus for any reason. 
•  Never sit in the back of the bus because the creepy people sit there. 
•  I told him not to talk to anyone, just listen to his music. 
• I made sure he had his hand sanitizer and his phone. 
• I reminded him never to leave his backpack unattended. 
•  The gal at the ticket counter helped me out letting him know not to leave the bus station in Seattle.  She explained to my son that there were gigolos, prostitutes, cross dressers, druggies and people who just got out of jail and would take him and we would never see him again.  I laughed as I thought I was being overprotective and then after the ticket gal got done talking to him I chuckled to myself thinking that I didn’t need to add any more.  

   What were we thinking, he’s in 8th grade and does it get any more dangerous than that?  I did ask the bus driver not to lose him because today I liked him.  I walked on the bus and checked on him one last time as he gave me that look that it was time for me to go.  I suddenly remembered how independent I was when I was his age.  I’ve been through this with his three older siblings and thought I had it figured out.   Letting Go, Is it ever easy?

  So here’s my thoughts.  My oldest has travelled around and been places I probably don’t want to know about and has so far survived.  My Second oldest is in the Marines and just got back from Iraq and has so far survived.  My daughter is in the Navy to become a pilot  and has so far survived. Two of my step children live in Los Angeles and have so far survived.   And my youngest, who I just put on the bus,  goes to middle school. Does it get any more dangerous than schools.  What am I doing talking to him about how scary this world is?  He deals with all those things every day. 

   Have a great time with your brother and be safe. Isn’t it sad we have to teach our children not to trust anyone.  I promise to only text you every 30 minutes!!!!

Love, Mom