The expression on Bossy’s daughter’s face, this is what Bossy keeps thinking about. When the photo was taken, Bossy’s daughter was only a couple of hours from entering the belly of a plane bound for Europe, alone. And in the photo above, Bossy’s daughter’s face encapsulates an appropriate mix of hopefulness and trepidation.
That’s really great you sent your daughter to Europe alone, people say to Bossy, only they substitute the word crazy for great, and the word baby for daughter.
Oh that’s nothing, Bossy replies, and goes on to tell the bedtime story of how Bossy shipped her son to Japan, alone, when he was only ten — except he had a connecting flight in Detroit and there was a delay because the airline was sweeping thousands of dead seagulls from the runway due to a hailstorm in the middle of October.
Of course the reality is Bossy’s daughter is staying and traveling with dear British friends who briefly lived next door to the Bossy family — and they happen to sport a daughter who is Bossy’s daughter’s age:
So Bossy’s daughter will have the time of her life and is in responsible hands — but that doesn’t stop Bossy from sitting around obsessively calculating:
Bossy knows what you’re thinking: Nine plus five does not equal two, silly Bossy! To which Bossy replies, Sure it does, when one is calculating the five-hour time difference between Bossy and her little daughter.
Because despite the amazing experience your child will have — or your own much-needed time spent kid-less — there’s something that feels very unnatural about a great distance between you and your offspring.
Bossy knows she’s not alone. For instance Bossy’s friend Martha is sending The Artist Formerly Known as Pool Urchin to overnight camp this summer for two weeks.
Bossy can sum up her plan to distract herself while her daughter is traveling abroad in this way: Turn on the television and hook up the wine I.V.
Which is what today’s Ten-Word Challenge is all about. In exactly ten words, can you tell Bossy about your experience with summer separation, either from your own parents or from your kids, and how you dealt with it?
And be sure to check back later today for the best summer separation stories on the Web.
If you missed last week’s challenge, click here to find out how Bossy’s readers would write their own personal ads, in ten words, of course.
BOSSY says
June 29, 2010 at 11:46 amIn youth, Bossy never separated from parents. They’re too fun!
BOSSY says
June 29, 2010 at 11:47 amSon to beach w/neighbors. Only now learning of deadly waves.
BOSSY says
June 29, 2010 at 11:48 amDaughter, overnight theater camp. What, five days is over ALREADY?
Anna says
June 29, 2010 at 11:51 amI’m in England too, she’s with friends and near well-wishers.
BOSSY says
June 29, 2010 at 11:53 amBossy’s kids to half-day camp, not enough time for mom.
Eliza says
June 29, 2010 at 12:00 pmSummer house. Sun, art, books. Teens only visit. No husband.
MidLifeMama says
June 29, 2010 at 12:01 pmBossy, STOP ANSWERING YOUR OWN QUESTION.
Me at girl scout camp, wilds of Massachusetts, with horses.
WebSavvyMom says
June 29, 2010 at 12:09 pm–>Went to Dominican Republic without 6-month old son. Never Again.
rockle says
June 29, 2010 at 12:10 pmGirl Scout Camp, age 12, only overnight, wailed like INFANT.
rockle says
June 29, 2010 at 12:11 pmAfter college, job training, Boston, long-distance-stalked future husband.
Jean says
June 29, 2010 at 12:13 pmCamp Tockwogh, summers of ’86 and ’87. Many tears cried.
Debby says
June 29, 2010 at 12:18 pmPool near non-kid area, dh golfing, retirement flash-forward?
Jodi says
June 29, 2010 at 12:22 pmWhy’s it easier to go away than have them leave?
Jodi says
June 29, 2010 at 12:23 pmDaughter away mission trip – house soooo quiet without constant song.
BossysMom says
June 29, 2010 at 12:46 pmNever missed my Mom and Dad…EVER , when away.
BossysMom says
June 29, 2010 at 12:47 pmgoing bye bye, that is.
Golden says
June 29, 2010 at 1:02 pmNYC, please don’t blowup with my son in your city.
Cactus Petunia says
June 29, 2010 at 1:12 pmHow can I miss them if they don’t go away?
Cindy says
June 29, 2010 at 1:12 pmDaughter in Ireland. Poor house painters… got my full attention.
Lori in MN says
June 29, 2010 at 1:15 pmBaby at scout camp, first time. Can’t think without crying.
Lori in MN says
June 29, 2010 at 1:16 pmp.s. I love reading Bossy’s answers to her own questions!
yvonne nc says
June 29, 2010 at 1:18 pm10 – girl scout camp 1 week – wanted to stay longer.
Lizzy says
June 29, 2010 at 1:35 pmDaughter’s letter from camp: “people are mean to me”. Sob!
Joie says
June 29, 2010 at 1:36 pmAway from ‘rents. 8 weeks. Loved it. Tried out Judaism.
confused says
June 29, 2010 at 1:46 pmGS camp, homesick, allergic, miserable, sobbing I want my mama!
(can I go now?)
Tonya says
June 29, 2010 at 1:47 pmPlease someone take my kids for a week. Please. Please.
bossy's friend amy says
June 29, 2010 at 1:49 pmevery year i couldn’t wait to leave the parents (and pesky older brother) at home to escape to summer camp for 3 glorious fun filled (non-parental) weeks.
Lora says
June 29, 2010 at 1:51 pmHe went to Grampy’s for two days. I ate cookies.
Lisa says
June 29, 2010 at 1:58 pmGah is right! I’m putting my precious 16 year old on a plane in a couple of weeks to Washington DC. Whaaaaaaa!!!!
Smalltown Mom says
June 29, 2010 at 2:02 pmSon traveling on Delta as an unaccomanied minor. Enough said!
Smalltown Mom says
June 29, 2010 at 2:02 pmUnaccompanied, I mean.
Meredith says
June 29, 2010 at 2:06 pmOldest leaves today. 8 days. Stay tuned. Pass the wine.
OH-Ang says
June 29, 2010 at 2:07 pmOnly child..(DD-age 10) 1st sleepaway camp. No news good news..right????
OH-Ang says
June 29, 2010 at 2:08 pmNo longer tents…now cabins with AC…this is camp?
Michele says
June 29, 2010 at 2:08 pmAbusive parents made me feel far safer away. Ah freedom!
GrandeMocha says
June 29, 2010 at 2:12 pmHe spent the night at Grandma’s last week. We hung curtains. Really.
GrandeMocha says
June 29, 2010 at 2:13 pmHubby & son spent Sat. night at auntie’s. Watched what I wanted.
Sewmouse says
June 29, 2010 at 2:21 pmHard to choose:
1) Parents in Europe. Brother gets mono and hepatitis, needs hospitalization.
2) Mostly empty Florida resort fine until invaded by weekending cubans.
Tonya says
June 29, 2010 at 2:32 pmFeel need to clarify: love my kids. need a break.
pamela dayton time says
June 29, 2010 at 3:22 pmshort people won’t even leave me alone to go pee.
almudena says
June 29, 2010 at 3:35 pmwant me to go where and for how long mommy???
ruth says
June 29, 2010 at 3:37 pmCamp Cassaway 1960 Happiness, Joy, Girl Scouting DEVINE!
Amy in NJ says
June 29, 2010 at 3:50 pmtwo weeks: Europe w/hubby, kiddos with grandma, mixed emotions
We’re going to Europe alone this summer. I go everywhere with my three year old daughter (work, bathroom, everywhere). I’m very excited and I’m sure I will have fun and miss my boys, but the thought of not being with my baby for those two weeks makes me get weepy and want to pack her in my carry-on.
Ann P says
June 29, 2010 at 4:00 pmSon Costa Rica
Son Canada
Why me here? Pass wine.
BOSSY says
June 29, 2010 at 4:26 pmBossy reads son’s comments to learn how NYC summer going.
Deb Amlen says
June 29, 2010 at 4:56 pmTold daughter, pack tampons.
Daughter forgot.
Period on bus.
Facepalm.
Lori says
June 29, 2010 at 5:11 pmSummer? Just sent 3mo to daycare for first time. Tears!
Jennifer T says
June 29, 2010 at 5:16 pmDidn’t have balls to send 10yo to GS camp alone.
Robyn in VA says
June 29, 2010 at 5:37 pmCalifornia Mountains. Open bunks. Hordes of mosquitos. Great fun. (*Hey* I did it in 9!)
kathleen says
June 29, 2010 at 5:45 pmBoy at Grandma Camp, kept thinking I was forgetting something.
Tami Wyatt says
June 29, 2010 at 6:06 pmAlcoholic father at home. I would leave when ever possible.
Gail K. says
June 29, 2010 at 6:46 pm16 – GS counselor for summer. Got homesick but rocked job!
AngAK says
June 29, 2010 at 8:16 pmMunich summer 1972 Olympics awsome, homesick last 2 days.
Catherine McP says
June 29, 2010 at 8:46 pmI couldnt wait to go anywhere without my wacky parents!
Now:
Adult daughter whos a mother, lives in another state, Stillworriedlikeshes4.
Cupcake Murphy says
June 29, 2010 at 8:59 pmAny member of my little tribe gone—I get jumpy.
Carroll says
June 29, 2010 at 9:29 pmDiscovered pacifier in bag on Maui beach. Baby across ocean.
Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
(That, being a sound effect, does not count as a word)
Chesapeake Bay Woman says
June 29, 2010 at 9:41 pmThe flame at my heels left my poor parents coughing.
Chesapeake Bay Woman says
June 29, 2010 at 9:42 pmPutting children on a plane would involve gallons of wine.
Chesapeake Bay Woman says
June 29, 2010 at 9:43 pmOf course wine IVs and lots of TV work too.
bossy's friend martha's sister says
June 29, 2010 at 10:27 pmgirls gone for 9 days ex….me first triathlon sprint
linlah says
June 30, 2010 at 12:20 amBoy turned 27, met girl, moved to ID, got married.
jane says
June 30, 2010 at 12:54 amFirst summer camp starts Tuesday. I’m in denial.
olivia says
June 30, 2010 at 7:32 amSummers at Granny’s farm with cousins. Hated going home (school !)
Marion says
June 30, 2010 at 8:14 amFrench, 12, five weeks in Texas. I learned English.
km says
June 30, 2010 at 9:31 amLeft USA kids- Ireland, hubs and I- Prague. Kids unflappable.
Owengirl79 says
June 30, 2010 at 2:43 pmMother back to college…7 weeks…me 10 and scared.
Lora says
June 30, 2010 at 5:04 pmwhen the boy’s away, i try to recapture pre-mom me.
(my mom takes Jake for a week each year, and my dad does the same. So I have at least two weeks of recapturing going on. It’s really hard, and rarely works, but it’s fun trying. Also, home projects.)
MemeGRL says
June 30, 2010 at 9:17 pmCan do it in five: Never happened until they died.
GrandeMocha says
July 1, 2010 at 1:30 pmParents in Paris during HS. BEST 3 WEEKS OF MY LIFE!!!
Rachel says
July 1, 2010 at 2:15 pmI am probably moving to Belgium. My mom is freaked. 🙂
neg says
July 2, 2010 at 9:36 amKids clinging to apron strings…all three…youngest is 22!
Summer says
July 2, 2010 at 11:39 amKids are gone! Whoopee! It’s like a honeymoon at home!
helenel says
July 2, 2010 at 2:20 pmHated Scout Camp. Wiped tears on letters pleading for rescue.
.
(By the time they came to get me, I loved it too much to leave!)
snowwhite says
July 2, 2010 at 2:42 pmYoungest,12, ballet training 6 weeks Washington DC.
(#17 same thoughts/WashingtonDC)
p.j. says
July 2, 2010 at 3:57 pmLast weekend, husband & daughter joined son in NYC. Blissful!!!
p.j. says
July 2, 2010 at 3:59 pm1961 – GS Camp Chickagami – nauseous from homesickness or latrine. Returned.
kathleen says
July 2, 2010 at 4:38 pmDaughter to language school in Florence. She wouldn’t take me.
MomZombie says
July 2, 2010 at 11:47 pmChecked U.S. Bank account to track my girl’s European tour.
josh says
July 3, 2010 at 2:09 pmFamily was too poor to ship me off for summer!
Alissa says
July 3, 2010 at 11:44 pmLoved summer camp but wore same underwear the whole time.
country mouse says
July 4, 2010 at 12:52 am17 y.o.s. went to Turkey alone. Contracted nasty virus. Athens hospital. SCARY AS HELL!!
Jason says
July 4, 2010 at 4:50 pmSummer is best spent alone with a book on couch.
Cindy Z says
July 5, 2010 at 10:55 amMy son moved out Saturday, I pretend he’s on vacation 🙂
Sarah says
July 5, 2010 at 8:58 pmCatholic camp. Praying, and beach make out sessions after dark.
Kate says
July 6, 2010 at 11:38 pmIf ever separated from daughter, may it feature cabana boys.
Sheila says
July 7, 2010 at 1:04 amDaughter to Sweden, Germany. Four summers. Nanny to small nephew.