My week has been consumed by lists. There have been the usual lists for shopping, places to be and to-do lists. The usual, run-of-the-mill sort of lists needed to make sure the week runs fairly smoothly for a family of five. I guess you could call these ones my lists.
There have been the getting ready for Christmas lists. Some are mine. Some are from others. Children shouting down from their rooms how to spell certain words, only to refuse to tell you why they need to know.
Then the all consuming packing lists and going away lists from my eldest daughter, as she prepares to set off. It’s a school trip. She’s away for a few days, but there is still so much that needs to be organized. We’ve reached that strange point in our parenting journey when I’m given lists, but I’m not so involved. She organizes and packs her own bags. Asking advice occasionally, but doing it by herself.
(my knitted bunch of mistletoe is growing)
I run through lists of things I need to tell her before she goes. It is a strange place sometimes. Being the mother of a teen. I think of things to say and remind her. Wonder why I’ve not covered this before, in all the years she’s been part of my life.
Sometimes I have already, as it turns out.
I have her itinerary pinned up on the fridge. She sent me a text, early this morning, to say they are over the Channel, but many more hours left to travel. She’ll text again. Sigh. She’s growing up. It’s bitter/sweet, but I am so looking forward to hearing about her adventures.
So back to my lists. I wonder what we’ll do this weekend now our family of five will temporarily be a family of four. Maybe something spontaneous. No planning required.
(Fun) list of five things I’ve learnt
1. If your toddler has a vocab beyond their age and loves books, start saving now for all the overseas school trips they will be going on as a teen. Actually, just start saving. Seriously. Now.
2. They learn how to pack by watching you over the years. This can be a good or bad thing.
3. One item on the packing list will have to be abandoned as impossible to find. Let it go. (I know it will turn up today)
4. Buy a sharpie ready for the last moment when there is no more time left to label everything properly.
5. It happens all too soon. One moment they are building towers out of wooden blocks. The next, they are packing their bags and grabbing their passports.
Sigh.
I really dread when T is a teen, although most times, she’s already like a teen! Loving your knitted mistletoe 🙂 x
Thanks Dean. I look at my youngest and wonder if he will ever be ready for a trip away, but I thought the same of Eldest at the same age. Maybe a teen-acting T is not such a bad thing.
Oh, that last point on your list made me sad! It seems I need to be saving now for overseas trips then. Your week has been very list dominated, I do hope your teen has a wonderful time. My nephew’s off overseas tomorrow on a uni field trip and I’ve been hearing about his packing list this week, too, so I can relate to that one. Thanks for sharing with #WotW
I hope your nephew enjoys his trip too. Fortunately we didn’t have anything unusual to pack, which made it easier. Although working out what to send as a pack lunch which will be eaten 24 hrs later, and that she could throw away once finished, did stretch me. 🙂
So, so true. They grow up WAY too quickly!
Too quickly!
eek, can’t image the cost of a teenager yet. I love a good list and nothing is as saitisfying ticking of the things completed X #wotw
I love ticking off lists too. 🙂
Aw this made me weep, we are nearly there I can see it waving over the horizon, they grow so quickly. I hope she is having an amazing time xx
Me too. Her texts seem cheerful. There is a definite march through childhood. Sigh.
They do grow up… and the plans they have are not always ours!!! But when you look back you can see that the journey they are on began years ago and somehow it all works out. Exciting times as they find their footing and spread their wings!!!
It is exciting times and I love being there to see her grow. Hoping she has a positive time.
Where would we be without lists though? I’d certainly be lost – MOH often jokes that I have a list of my lists. He’s joking, but I do ! Hope she has a great time, and while it may be little consolation the fact that she’s so prepared to go on trips like this is due to all the hard work you’ve put in over the years firing her imagination, and making sure she’s ready to take the next steps. #wotw
That is a lovely way to put it. You are right. Preparation started a long time before the suitcase came out of the attic. Thank you. I can sincerely say I don’t have lists of lists, but I sometimes joke that I do!
I’m not a fan of the teen years it’s so hard to let them go but alas we must. I hope she has a wonderful trip and I think I had better get saving because number 1 on your list applies to both of my youngest ! #WotW