First Overnight Away

I didn't post this at the time, but thought I'd write here for those who didn't hear the news: John spent his first night away from me! He was three years and 14 days old, but who's counting?

The event was rather last-minute in nature, as Pop-Pops had had unexpected surgery and Chris thought it would be a really nice idea to buzz down to Atlanta to cheer up his dad. And it would be an even more cheerful visit if he could take John with him. I couldn't disagree with him there. We talked and talked and I sighed and we asked John about it . . . and it was all of 30 minutes between the proposal of the idea and my loading my husband and firstborn into the car to leave.

I packed John's Lambie (a transitional object he used from about 18 months to 2-1/2, but hasn't had need for since), the tee-shirt I had been sleeping in, a love note for John, and a gift for his baptismal anniversary which he would now be waking up to in Atlanta. And I cried. (But not in front of John.)

The end of the story is that John did well. He woke up the next morning and said that he wanted to go home to see Mama, which was good timing since Chris was going to be bringing them home anyway. I tried to enjoy my nearly 24 hours of freedom, but I still had my 13-month-old with me and it's amazing how much her big brother occupies her! Without John here and with Mary in a mysteriously bad mood, I could not so much as watch junk TV, play on the Internet, or read my book! So much for that!

I'm glad John did well away, but I can assure anybody who is wondering that Chris and I are nowhere near ready to let the little guy spend the night away from both of us!