Reliving childhood and teenage memories with your own children can be positive but also negative. Playing in the woods, camping, and traveling would be in the positive categories. But then there are others.
As soon as he turned twenty, Corey decided that Jackson Hole was his camping destination. The challenge? All of his friends were working which meant it would be a solo journey, camping in a tent. It also meant a 22-hour drive.
” Dad did this when he was 18″ were Corey’s comments. He was referring to Mitch’s Alaskan trip with a high school buddy. “Yes, but he traveled with another person,” I pointed out. ” He also camped many times,” I added. Corey’s camping adventures include one time with his brother and a high school group, family camping in a travel trailer, and one night tent camping with cousins. ” We were already in Jackson Hole two years ago, ” I reminded. ” What about recreating the same idea closer home? ” There’s nothing like Jackson Hole,” he stated. Sigh.
Parenting adult children is vastly different than the birth- eighteen range. Instead of pointing out dangers and concerns, you ask many questions until they are forced to answer. You bite your tongue to refrain from using a critical tone. Sometimes, silence is a good answer. I found myself praying for something to get in the way of this idea- a problem with his car, and unexpected meeting, anything!
However, my prayers were not answered in the way I wanted and none of our tactics worked with Corey, the determined, adventurous adult. ” Do you realize the distance?” we queried. ” Twenty- two hours is a long way by yourself,”. We resigned ourselves to this adventure and helped him pack. He drove out of the driveway, and we were left with our worries.
” I think I am going to declutter the basement,” I announced. Mitch immersed himself in work and fishing shows.
Unable to sleep, I found myself praying throughout the night. Mitch repeatedly checked his phone. “This is crazy!” I thought. I imagined all kinds of scenarios and none were positive.
When he finally reached the campsite, our hearts slowed down. I took some deep breaths. ” Are you having a good time?” I asked, in a fake kind of mom’s voice. Inside, I was thinking: WHAT ARE YOU DOING? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT KIND OF STRESS YOU ARE PUTTING US IN RIGHT NOW? Seeing his campsite on Facetime and hearing about his travels eased our worries. However, the return trip brought forth a new set of concerns: stormy weather.
When the tornado sirens went off, a set of different concerns filled our minds. As the rain pummeled the windows, I peered outside, looking for the familiar blue car. When he finally entered the house, I breathed a sigh of relief and thanks to God. I secretly hoped this was the last crazy journey, but one never knows.
A Journey Worth Remembering 