Shriek

Got home yesterday afternoon and hugged Jonah, only to find he had a fever.

My internal dialogue went thusly:

I’m going away next week for 10 weeks. Jonah’s getting sick. He’ll probably need to see a doctor. He’ll probably be admitted to hospital. I’ll be in the USA and my baby will be lying in a hospital bed without me.

I mentioned that, right? That I’m going away for 10 weeks?

Long story, so I won’t go into it all, but I’m leaving on the 19^th of Feb and returning on the 3^rd of May. Shall be in Illinois, then Seattle, then North Carolina, then San Francisco, then North Carolina again and then home.

I read an article recently about travelling and it offered a great tip for helping your kids conceptualise the amount of time you’re going to be away: you make a paper chain with a link for every day you’ll be away. They get to tear off a link every day and count down to when you return.

I made one yesterday. It stretched clear across the lounge.

So I’m feeling a tad hysterical.

Hence my mental freak-out.

Excuse me while I go breathe into a paper bag.

 

Comments

[beck]

Aw man. That's gotta be rough but you'll be fine and so will your family. Also, how long are you in SF for? You'll be a stone's throw away from me!

[Bianca W]

What a fantastic way of counting down the days. Try skype them at the same time every day and mak it a ritual - they tear that piece of the chain off while you are all chatting on skype.

Hope Jonah does NOT end up in hosptial. Take him to the doc NOW, rather.

XXX
B

[Melany]

I like the idea of the chain.

HUGS I can imagine that you must be very stressed. I hope little Jonah is okay

[Angela Lusk]

Yes, I hope that your son is not getting sick. Like you, I also come up with the worst images in my head. I'm sure he'll be fine! Yes, I agree with the other commentor about Skype. We love it and the $20 camera to bring along would be SO worth it for you. 10 weeks is a long time, it sounds like you will be traveling all over the states though and getting to see some very cool cities! I live in New Mexico and myself have only been to Illinois, but not all the other cool places you'll be going. How cool!

[angel]

strongs neen... i think the paper chain is an awesome idea!