blogs

I asked my stepdaughters to take Nicholas for a night while they're home for the summer. On the surface, that sounds like a simple request. They accepted immediately - they adore their brother and he thinks they walk on water. But for me it's a big deal. Nicholas is 3, and I have yet to spend a night away from him. How did I become one of "those" moms?

He's asked about the possibility, of course. Kids have stayed over here a time or two and he's eager to give it a shot. For a long time, I used the excuse/carrot of "Someday, when you're potty-trained." Well, he's potty-trained, so I'm done in there.

I think about the time the girls went to stay with my husband's aunt in Idaho for two weeks. They were older, of course, and they had each other. But his face after putting them on the plane (accompanied by his aunt; he didn't just load a couple of 7-year-olds on a flight by themselves) was heartbreaking. He looked bereft. And whenever he called to check on them, Aunt Becky would tell him he couldn't talk to them - that would just make them homesick - and hang up. The always blunt Becky: "If something happens, we'll call you. Otherwise, see you in two weeks." Of course, they had a wonderful time and still talk about the trip all these years later.

So this is my baby step, because someday Nicholas will head to Idaho, or summer camp, or college, or spring training for the Yankees, and I don't want that to be his first night away from me. I haven't figured out what his dad and I will do - a trip to the coast, maybe see a show, maybe stay home and watch something on TV that isn't a singing cartoon. I just figured it was time not to be the only loser who can't be separated from her child.

I mentioned my plan to my husband. His response: "Wait, the whole night?"