My 12 1/2 yr old son went on a boyscout camping trip, he left yesterday and will be back Friday evening. My Husband went up there today, and will only stay overnight(Has to work). I feel so out of sorts when all my babies are not home at night? How do you get over that feeling? He will be 13 in August. I was nervous about letting him go camping without his father. Up until this point,his father ALWAYS went with him. He is been part of this troop for over 2 yrs, and I know everybody and comfortable with all of them. Yet, I was secretly hoping the trip would be canceled. I know that is terrible to think that way.They are camping up by Washington DC, so I know my son will have a great time. I just felt so uneasy going to bed last night knowing my son was not at home in his own bed. Yes, hes had sleepovers at other peoples houses, and such. Hes gone camping with his dad before.
Then this morning my husband left at 5:30am to go up there. He will be back tomorrow night. I just feel so different, so out of sorts. My husband use to be in the Navy, and he use to go out on a ship. It is not like he has never been gone before. It seemed like that was a long time ago. He has been out of the Navy for 8 yrs now.
I know I will survive. I dont want any of you to think I am being a big baby. I think it bothers me more that my son, my oldest baby, will not be home in his bed for 3 nights...I just have a hard
letting go. And to think.. he is going to 7 nights of boyscout camp this summer(his first time), I will be a wreck LOL..
Anybody else have a hard time letting go???

By Tripletmom on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 08:43 am:

YES,All the time.We as parents just want to keep them safe and sound.{{{hugs}}} I have no advice but I know the out of sorts feeling.Your not a big baby.... your a mom.

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 09:02 am:

Totally normal feelings! I'm already stressing about a M-F camping trip DS will be going on this fall in Gr. 6. On top of all the normal worries, he has severe nut allergies and asthma. I will be learning everything I can about the trip, educating the staff and taking precautions, but I know I will be a nervous wreck while he's gone.

By Reds9298 on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 09:34 am:

I don't think you're a big baby! I would be a nervous wreck as well. It's part of being a mom.

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 10:11 am:

I was nervous the first time my kids were gone, but they've both been to confirmation camp, plus Sarah's been gone for 5 days for a band trip and 2 different weeks, for mission trips, plus a weekend where she flew to Minneapolis to go shopping at Mall of America. Emily has also been to horse camp twice.

I do okay, with people gone. When DH is gone, I probably sleep better, since no one is snoring next to me!

Next fall, Sarah goes to college, though, and it will be long stretches where we don't get to see her! Yikes.

By Dandjmom on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 10:27 am:

Jackie he will be fine, If I see any boy scouts I will make sure to double check on him,(trying to make you smile. No I live in Washington, and I think he will have fun with all the things for them to do.

By Dandjmom on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 10:27 am:

Jackie he will be fine, If I see any boy scouts I will make sure to double check on him,(trying to make you smile. No I live in Washington, and I think he will have fun with all the things for them to do.

By Bellajoe on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 10:50 am:

I know the feeling. It's like Part of your heart is missing. My kids have slept over my brother and SIL's house before. And I KNOW they are totally fine and having a great time and safe and all that but I still feel funny and out of sorts knowing that my child is not at home in his/her own bed where I can check on them if I want.

I would be nervous about them camping without one of the parents there too. But I'm sure he will be fine and is having a great time!

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 11:55 am:

I do know the feeling. The only way to handle it is to keep busy. Go out and rent some videos or DVDs you've been wanting to watch that dh won't watch with you, and for the next night, when dh will be home, some he has been wanting to watch that you'll enjoy watching with him.

Then start some task you've been putting off - a closet to clean out, a dresser or desk to reorganize and clear out, play some of your favorite music while you're doing it (the stuff that your son disparages if you play it when he's around). By that time the other kids should be home, and you'll be plenty busy until they go to bed and you can mentally pig out watching the films.

By Dancermom on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 12:06 pm:

I personally think this is the hardest part of parenting.

My daughter did her first solo driving last weekend. I was so proud of her, yet I was so sad my baby was growing up.

By Nicki on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 01:27 pm:

My dd goes to see her grandma who only lives five minutes away. She goes with dh, and she's usually gone for about five hours. I feel so sad when I see them drive away, then I miss the sound of her bouncing through the house and happily chatting with herself, lol. I think I'm going to relish the time alone, and have tons to do, but I usually have to push myself to get anything done. I so understand that feeling of not feeling right! I think you are totally feeling normal feelings. I think Ginny is right, try to keep busy. It always helps me.
Hugs to you, Jackie.

By Ilovetom on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 02:06 pm:

Hardest thing in the world. My "baby" is a senior at Alabama and I still feel lonely after he goes home.

By Wandilu on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 02:23 pm:

I totally understand . My dk's are all grown and I STILL miss the daily routine of having them at home.Even though I have my own things that I do with my life, I'm am truely the happiest and feel more complete when we are all together ( like on holidays or dinners at my house).I STILL don't really know what to do with myself, especially at night.My dh stays on the computer in the evenings, playing poker, and I watch tv or read, and it is just so lonely.I got to my youngest dd's house on Tuesday nights because she leaves at 6pm to go to work and her dh doesn't get home from work till later on. Last night as I was leaving to go back to my house,I felt so sad.Their house is so full of energy.You can feel the presence of people actually living there, if that makes sense I almost cried.I thought to myself" how did the years just pass by so fast?" Anyway, what you are feeling is truely normal, so don't be hard on yourself Just make sure that you allow yourself to enjoy every minute of it !!!!!And when you have to decide if you should use these extra minutes to mop that floor that you have been putting off doing,or sit down and color/ talk/ or whatever with your child....just remember"this too will pass" , but the floor will always be there!!

By Jackie on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 03:17 pm:

Thank you everybody, for all the kind words. It helps that I am not alone in this feeling. My husband made it to the DC area around 9:30this morning. He called me around noon time from one of the museums. He said my son was doing fine.This is spring break week here, as why they went camping this week. My 7 yr old daughter has been at her friends house all day. So, I have been with Faith all day, plus the 4 dogs here LOL..I am definitely not alone. I had "Planned" to do a lot of cleaning today..nothing really got done. I have done laundry, but have a BIG pile of it to put away...sigh... it will be there tomorrow. I do have a few errands to do now, then go pick up my daughter. I will find things to do, its really not hard. I am just not good at change.

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 06:50 pm:

I'm sure your son is having a great time!

By Mommmie on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 09:03 pm:

Oh yes, I understand. My 12 and a half year old is out of town right now on a 6th grade class trip. I hate it when he's not here. He travels out of town a lot with a friend and over time I have worried less. Still doesn't feel right.

By Reds9298 on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 09:26 pm:

Isn't it funny how, as mothers, no matter the ages of our children, we still feel that same worry, sadness, anxiety when they are gone? I was thinking how nervous I am about sending Natalie to preschool in the Fall. Regardless of the age/phase our children are in, we will still worry and miss them. From 2 to 20, it doesn't change, does it? I think that's the HARDEST part of being a mother.