My seventeen year old son is going off on a school trip to New York and Washington tomorrow. He has a very laissez-faire attitude to preparation which is the polar opposite of my own. The long list of things I am currently worrying about includes :
- Oversleeping and not getting to the school in time for the 3.45am drop off
- Him losing his passport
- Something being wrong with his ESTA and him being refused entry
- The customs discovering his perfectly legal dermatologist prescribed medication that I haven’t disclosed to the school because he didn’t want to have it dished out by the teacher
- His feet hurting as he has only just mentioned his second pair of trainers are too small
- His debit card, which he just told me is badly cracked, not working
- His wallet being stolen
- The zip breaking on his bulging suitcase as he is packing every T Shirt he owns
- Him not having enough smart clothes for the more formal visits
- Us ignoring the teacher’s strange directive that boys can only wear shorts that come past their knees
- Someone planting drugs in his suitcase
- His suitcase going missing
- Him not wearing his retainers
- Him running up a massive bill on data using his iPhone
You get the neurotic picture. My other son left for Spain with his fiancée yesterday and my daughter is in Croatia with friends from university. I checked they both had appropriate travel insurance, gave them a hug goodbye and didn’t really give it too much thought. They know what they are doing. My youngest son is very intelligent but there is something about most teenage boys that is a bit dreamy, or at least that’s how they can come across. I fear he will be so busy chatting with his friends that he won’t notice somebody dipping into his backpack or his passport lying on the pavement.
Worry – what a colossal waste of life it is. My husband says it achieves nothing but that isn’t quite true. When I am anxious about something like this I find that making a list and crossing everything off makes me feel calmer and it also ensures nothing important is missed. After all, it wouldn’t be much fun walking around New York in the pouring rain if we hadn’t packed his waterproof, these things do matter. Worrying can certainly drain the pleasure out of life though and it is important to recognise when it is getting out of hand.
I am sure lots of people will think that teachers have a great deal, going on these incredible trips for free, but the amount of work that goes into organizing them must be enormous. In one day my son is vising the UN, the Museum of Modern Art and The Empire State Building. The responsibility of ensuring all these teens cross the busy roads safely, don’t sneak off trying to have a drink etc. would just about finish me off. I am sure they will all have a fabulous time. My son’s, rather overstuffed, suitcase is now packed, labelled and I am feeling much more relaxed already.
Thank you for reading
Samantha
Silver & Blonde 