My children are
pretty self-sufficient. If I were to drop dead today, I know they wouldn't
starve, they would continue to have clean clothing and could drive themselves
around. But every now and then, they still seem to need me.
Julia is now a full
time day student at CEGEP. Her morning routine is back to a flurry of getting
ready before I drive her to the express bus for her ride into the city. Typically,
I throw her together a lunch of sorts (depending on her schedule and mood),
making sure to hang it over the front door's handle, so it's not missed during
her exit. This morning, Julia had to make a stop at the ATM. As she's getting
back into the car, I look down and ask, 'Where's your lunch?' Julia makes her
typical 'oops-sorry-don't-be-mad-you-know-you-love-me-because-I'm-cute' face
(which usually works on me) and I start to head back for home. Julia tells me
not to bother because she can't be late for this class - she has an important
assignment to hand in and the teacher deducts marks off your grade for the
assignment if you come in late. We have the time, so we go back and she gets
her lunch. After dropping her at the express bus stop, I head to the
supermarket to pick up a couple of things. Parking the car, I look down and see
the neon orange Koodo bag full of Julia's lunch. I sigh and text her to tell
her what an ASS she is. 'Oops', she texts back, complete with a :) I continue with my shopping and just as I get
to the cashier, my phone rings. It's Julia and she forgot her assignment in the
car. I offer to drive it to her at the metro and she happily agrees,
apologizing profusely. 'But hurry, Mom - I can't be late for this guy's class!'
Down the 40 I race, make it to the metro and we do the hand off right there on Sherbrooke Street
Getting back home,
I'm making coffee when I get another text. It's from Julia saying the power
went out in the metro and she's going to be late despite our best efforts to
get her assignment in on time. I suggest she explain it to the teacher and hope
for the best. She continues to grumble
about him and his rules.
Eventually,
another text - 'he said I won't get 10 (marks) off'. Another day, another
crisis averted. And this is only the first day of September ... *sigh* ...
