It is brunch time on Sunday morning. I had plans to meet a friend at one of my favorite restaurants, and I was already on my way when she cancelled. I am now sitting at Hearsay on the Waterway, enjoying some time to myself. I might finally try the Wagyu beef corn dog. I am snacking on little mini blueberry muffins and sipping coffee while I decide.
This is a nice beginning to a big week. In 92 hours, Brainy Bird and I hit the road to South Carolina. These are the last days of life as we know it as a family of three living together in our little house in Tomball.
We do not have anything specific planned for these upcoming days before we leave. Of course, I want to spoil him by taking him to all of his favorite restaurants, but Brainy Bird does not seem to want to make any sort of plans. I think that he is excited about what lies ahead, but part of him is sad to be leaving his friends behind.
I am crying off and on. A few months ago, I thought that I was 100% ready for him to head off to college. Little Chirp and I have already started our new routines and making plans to explore new places. I am looking forward to the these special days with Little Chirp. Still, as Brainy Bird’s day to leave the nest gets closer, I am growing more and more emotional.
The one major positive is that I am not worried about Brainy Bird living on his own. There is no question that he is ready for life on his own, and he has been for years. I know that he will be safe and make good choices. Of course, he will make mistakes, but that is part of living.
I laughed to myself at new student orientation when they told us in the parent’s session that we should give them freedom over the summer and make them do their own laundry to be sure they know how. Brainy Bird has been doing his own laundry for at least a decade.
There is no skill or task required to live on one’s own, other than paying bills, that Brainy Bird has not been doing for a long time. For this first year, he has just one bill because his tuition and room and board are all together. He already paid the first semester.
I think back to the days of fifth grade when we fought because I did not want him using the oven and stove when I was not home. My neighbors encouraged me to let him use the oven. They were honest, some said there is no way they would have let their own children use the oven and stove when home alone at that age, but Brainy Bird is extremely responsible and that I should let him.
After multiple sessions of sitting at the bar in the kitchen, watching Brainy Bird cook 100% on his own, I agreed that he could cook for him and his brother while I was at work. The first day of summer vacation arrived, and Brainy Bird was all set to make breakfast.
Around nine AM, I got a call from him, “Mom, the power is out.”
I shook my head in disbelief. After all of this debate, he FINALLY had kitchen privileges when home alone, yet he still can’t make breakfast.
He went on to say, “Mom, I get that the oven does work without electricity, but the stove is natural gas, why isn’t it working?”
I explained that while the burners are fueled by the natural gas, the lighter to turn the burner on is powered by electricity. I explained that one can manually light the stove, but I ABSOLUTELY did not want him to do this. The conversation ended there.
About ten minutes later, I got a text message from my next door neighbor, “Your son just came and asked if we will light the stove for him. The power is out. Of course, we will. We just want to make sure you are okay with it.”
My heart smiled. Another 30 minutes or so went by, and Brainy Bird sent me a picture of scrambled eggs and shrimp cocktails with a message that said, “Brunch!”
My fears of Brainy Bird using the kitchen alone came to an end that morning. Looking back, the whole reason Brainy Bird asked me to teach him to cook when he was in elementary school was so that he could make chalupas when he went away from college. At the time, this was so many years away. Now, it is just days away!