DD16 is getting on a bus to WDW

[kaitlin-n-mom]

without me in less than 4 hours and I am a nervous wreck. She is going with the school Marching band and will be performing at MK. This is her first trip without me and we are both a little nervous. I know I have to give her room and let her grow up, but darn does it get any easier. I think if it weren't for the 21 hour bus trip down there I would probably feel alot better about it. I will worry like crazy until she gets there.

Thanks for listening, I think I have to much nervous energy and just need to vent.

 

[Kaye]

My daughter is flying to D.C. Friday morning for a school trip. She's 13. I know the teachers that are going and they have security with them all of the time. It helps ease my mind, but the big thing is that she is so excited to go.

Your dd will probably have a great time, but not as great if she is worrying about you. Even though we always will worry, we can't always let them see that. Put on a happy face and tell her to have a great time, and she probably will. Then when she's gone, you can break down .

Although a 21 hour bus ride would do me in. Maybe that's where her big concern lies. It's always hard to cut the strings. I do understand, just trying to ease your concerns. Take care!

 

[bellebud]

no words of wisdom or anything to make it easier (mine aren't that age yet), but just wanted to give you a big old

I bet she'll have the time of her life! Hang in there mommy!

 

[Schmeck]

In two years your daughter could walk out the front door and never look back - she'll be 18 and a legal adult, maybe off to a far away college? She's never been away from home without you in 16 years? How about sleepovers? Summer camp? Girl Scouts? I'm glad you realize that she needs to gain some confidence and freedom, and I understand the feeling nervous part!

My oldest daughter (then 15) flew from the US to Norway last summer with her 17 yr old friend, with a transfer in Amsterdam. We had to hire an airline chaperone because of her age, and I was a bit nervous (Amsterdam is a large airport, and they have the "red-light district" where drugs are legal) but she made it there and back just fine. Now my 14 yr old wants to do the trip this summer with a friend...

 

[DVCLiz]

without me in less than 4 hours and I am a nervous wreck. She is going with the school Marching band and will be performing at MK. This is her first trip without me and we are both a little nervous. I know I have to give her room and let her grow up, but darn does it get any easier. I think if it weren't for the 21 hour bus trip down there I would probably feel alot better about it. I will worry like crazy until she gets there.

Thanks for listening, I think I have to much nervous energy and just need to vent.

Yes, it does get easier! I sent DD19 to Chile for 10 days when she was a sophmore in high school, and I was a little nervous, just like you are. And to the poster who questioned it, I don't think you meant that you and your daughter had never been apart, just that you had never sent her away on a trip of this magnitude, right?

Anyway, that trip went well, and in the years since DD has gone to Africa, Japan, Spain, England, Ireland, and the Bahamas (twice!) She is now an experienced traveler - far more so than me - and I think it has changed her in some amazing ways and given her some incredible life experiences.

You are doing a great thing for her - just relax and know she will be safe and have a great time!!!

 

[all4fun]

What, we have to let them leave home? Say it isn't so!!

(my ds is 4 btw)

I remember going flying x-country to Washington DC when I was a sophomore in high school on a chaperoned trip with a bunch of kids from church. What a great time it was. I'm sure your dd will miss you more than you realize and she will be fine!

 

[kaitlin-n-mom]

I just got home from putting her on the bus and they should be pulling out of the school as I type. Everything went good, I waited to cry like a baby until I got out of the parking lot.

I did not mean to make it sound like I keep her at my side at all times. She has gone and done alot of things without me. Shes been in the Marching Band since the 7th grade and competed in Winterguard for a few years. She has been traveling to competitions throughout the state for some time. Just nothing this long and far away. She was always close enough that I new if there was an emergency I could get there.

It has always been just her and I. So we have always been very close and Disney has been our special happy place. I took her for the first time when she was 5 and we've been hooked ever since. So she was a little disappointed that I could not go with her this trip. But we have November, which is when we will get to spend time together and enjoy the trip. They have a full schedule this trip so there would not be a whole lot of time for us to spend together. Plus this allows her to go and enjoy her time with her friends and not worry about entertaining mom.

The part the bothers me the most is the bus ride. OMG, to me that is the absolute worst way to travel especially 77 S throught the hills of WV. The last time we took this trip I think I left finger prints in the seat in front of me from holding on so tight. I will feel better tomorrow when she is in WDW then all will be good.

Thanks for the hugs and words of encouragement. Needed it.

 

[mylilnikita]

Yea the mountains scare me silly too.
But look at it this way, she is going to have a great time! And you know what? She will probably if not now but later on think about how you have enough belief in her to be able to handle going.

 

[Schmeck]

If mountain driving scares you, never, ever go to the campground at Meat Cove, Nova Scotia. Mountain on one side of the road, sheer cliff drop to the rocks/ocean below on the other side...

I agree that a 21 hour bus trip is a little un-nerving, can she call you on her cell phone to let you know how things are going?

 

[kaitlin-n-mom]

If mountain driving scares you, never, ever go to the campground at Meat Cove, Nova Scotia. Mountain on one side of the road, sheer cliff drop to the rocks/ocean below on the other side...

I agree that a 21 hour bus trip is a little un-nerving, can she call you on her cell phone to let you know how things are going?

Not to self: stay away from Meat Cove, Novia Scotia. I would have to be sedated. What has happened to me? I used to be fearless, as I get older (or was it motherhood) and have turned into scaredy pants.

What in the world did we do before cell phones? How on earth did our Mother's survive?

She's called me about three times now. The last call was to let me know she was still in WV, turning her cell phone off, going to sleep and would call when she got up. She is such a great kid.

Well I am going to try to get some sleep for now.

 

[Schmeck]

Your daughter sounds so sweet! My now 16 yr old travels around the US 2-3 times a year with her sports team, and she rarely calls me...

 

[kaitlin-n-mom]

She arrived safe and sound at 2:30. I can breathe now. (at least until they leave to come home)

Yes, she is a really sweet kid. She knows that I worry so she always calls just to check in and let me know all is ok. I don't even have to ask.

Thanks so much for all the support.

Dawn

 

[carrie6466]

without me in less than 4 hours and I am a nervous wreck. She is going with the school Marching band and will be performing at MK. This is her first trip without me and we are both a little nervous. I know I have to give her room and let her grow up, but darn does it get any easier. I think if it weren't for the 21 hour bus trip down there I would probably feel alot better about it. I will worry like crazy until she gets there.

Thanks for listening, I think I have to much nervous energy and just need to vent.

My DS went at 15...we are in NY, they flew from here to Cincinati then to Orlando. I was a nervous wreck. They stayed 5 days and had a great time. I was home and sad a) because I couldn't go and b) because he had a blast with his school friends without me

Some days it's just so hard to give them that room; isn't it? Sorry to say in my case (he'll be 19 in May) it hasn't gotten any easier. Little kids, little problems. Big kids, big problems. Wait til she starts driving ::groans::