A Growth Spurt

Just when you think you’ve reached your adult height, something comes along and you realize you still have room to grow.

My oldest son attended one of the many midnight showings of the new Harry Potter movie last night with nine friends.  The plan was to stand outside in line (luckily tickets had already been purchased, so getting in was a sure thing) for three hours until their movie time, see the movie and then have parents pick them up at 3:00AM.  Yes, you heard me right, 3:00AM.

I volunteered to take them all to the movie in our vehicle and luckily they all fit. Seatbelts mandatory.  I wanted to see the group and how they interacted so that I could rest assured they would be safe and together in line. As I pulled up to the house in a massive downpour, I was pleasantly surprised by their consideration for the girls getting in first and out of the rain and if there was enough leg room for the 6’2” boy in the middle.  Thank you’s were said by everyone for picking them up and for letting them use the umbrellas and blankets.  My anxiety was lessened instantly.

We arrived at the theater and the host of the group got out first to pick up the tickets and then everyone followed her to their appropriate line to wait and be teenagers, laughing, doing spells on everyone with their makeshift wands and keeping warm and dry together in their umbrella campsite. 

“Bye.  Thank you.  Thanks again. Bye.” was the last I heard of them as they opened their umbrellas and walked through the puddles to their line.

I arrived home and the clock ticked at the most unbelievable turtle's  pace.  This was the longest night of my parenting life.  We texted every forty-five minutes to confirm their wetness level and okness up until they were seated inside, umbrellas under their chairs and popcorn in hand.  The response to my last text asking whether or not they were inside was a simple four-word reply.  “Yeahhh!  No more txtng!”

I got the hint. 

I had to grow up as a parent and let the rope loosen and let them be.  It was not easy, but I did it.  I had to do it.  It’s the only way they can prove themselves to us and the only way we can prove to ourselves that we’ve done our job.   They need to be kids and sometimes they need to be kids without parents sitting in the parking lot (which I did not do - cross my heart and hope to die) or standing in line with them.  I must have grown three inches in one night.

I set the alarm (why I don’t know, because I watched every minute tick by for two hours and five minutes) and tried to relax.  Once I reached the theater, he and his friend hopped in the car and we were off to the safe and secure walls of our home.  He was safe AND had a great time.  I was tired, but I was happy. It was a  growth spurt for both of us, although I think I did a bit more growing than he did.  I think I could get used to the view from this new level.