I’m really going to leave him for a whole week
Ok, technically, we won’t see each other for six days, but it’s close enough to a week. I feel horrible about leaving Oscar. I’m sort of making myself sick over it. I know that taking him around the world in the same amount of time would be a mistake, but I still don’t like leaving him. In an attempt to make myself feel better about the temporary abandonment I’m about to force him to endure, I spent some time today putting together his daily gift bags from me.Â
The intent behind the gift bags was to give him a little something each day I’m gone, something new to play with, to get him thinking about something other than the fact that his mother was not there. I was going to get things like stickers . . . little things, really. I started well, buying moon sand and those squishy balls, but ended up going a bit further, with six bags filled with a lot of cars and trucks and one special I.C.E. bag. In case of emergency, Nanny Norma or my parents are to resort to giving him the chartreuse bag, which contains an extra special gift (a battery operated James engine with coal car – a train that talks and can pull some of his other trains).  To top it off, when Etta arrives, she’ll bestow the biggest gift, his Mustang convertible (thanks for the idea, Kelli). I’m thinking we might keep the bags out on the counter downstairs, to show that when they’re gone I’ll be home, but I’m not sure that he’ll understand that.
Ultimately, this is going to be harder on me than it will be on him, right?
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I distinctly remember my parents going to Hawaii when I was 3 or 4 and they left a gift for me to open every day. They were hidden away and the sitter pulled them out each day and I thought it was awesome and could hardly believe my luck to get a present each day they were gone. For years I asked when we could do that again.
Smart thinking on the big brother gift from Etta.
Ugh. I feel your pain. We left Matty with my parents for two full weeks when we traveled to pick up Molley. HOWEVER, it WAS harder on us than him. He did just fine. He was crazy, super excited to see us when we got home, but he did so well. It’s incredibly hard to leave our babies, isn’t it?
Great idea to leave him gifts. My parents did that for me when my mom was in the hospital (when she was pregnant with my brother). I think I was at my grandparent’s house for a week and rec’d a gift each day. I was older (four) so I remember it and it was a big deal for me!
It will all be okay!
I hope he loves the car. Sometimes I surprise myself with ideas
. I think Oscar will understand the bag concept. You could put numbers on the bags to reinforce it. He will love the presents! I can’t imagine how hard it would be to leave him for a week. Luckily it’s only a week. I think you will both do fine (that’s easy for me to say since I’m not the one leaving, but I really really do think you will both do great!).
It usually is harder on the parent. As to letting him see all the bags on the counter, well, I KNOW that wouldn’t work for my girl, if she sees it, its all hers NOW, my 2 1/2 yr old chooses not to understand the concept of later, lol. Everything you are doing sounds great, love the gift ideas, the I.C.E. bag and Kelli’s car idea, briliant. I’m taking notes folks because Alea is not coming to Taiwan with us when we meet her older sister. (Remind me later that I said that!)
The bags are a great idea!! He’s going to be fine. I am so excited for you!!!!
Would hearing your voice flip him out or be a good thing? I know my sister used to video-tape herself reading favorite stories with a little message at the end about how many more “sleeps” until she came back. My nieces LOVED it.
That is an interesting idea. I might haul out the dictaphone just to see…
Just breathe. You know your little guy will be in loving hands in the place he loves and the 6 days will fly by. And….you need to be enjoying every minute of your marvelous journey to your daughter : )
You are doing everything just right in my mind!
PS…I know this is most probably a very long shot, but do you happen to know Michael Russell? He is my cousin and works for Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in Palo Alto.
That is an awesome idea! But you are right, it will be worse on you! I remember the first time I sent my kids to visit Grammy & Grampa for a week. I thought I would die, but they still talk today of how it was the greatest week ever, and it was 5 years ago.
I did this for the girls when I went with Joc and I think it helped a ton.
The daily gifts are a great idea! I’ve had friends who have traveled to China and their small children have stayed behind. They also did a paper chain (which they made together) and each day, their children got to cut a link off the chain. They knew that when all the links were gone, it was time to see Mama again!
I did the gift thing for Pacey too and she loved it. You are going to be fine, he is going to be fine and I know you told me the same thing and it made no difference:-)!! Just trying to help a little!!