Your child’s first night away from home is a major milestone for the whole family. Our eldest recently went away with school on their first school residential trip and while I had anticipated the ups and downs of this weekend for myself (big cutting apron strings moment), I hadn’t really thought much about how this overnight school trip would affect our youngest child – left behind. Here is our story…
This story is part of our Milestones series.
Left Behind – Your First Night Away From Home
Mummy (9 years parenting)
Day 1 – Friday
Today is the day.
Take a deep breath. And relax. Find happy face.
Do not think about all the things that could go wrong. Be confident. He can do this.
Of course he can do this. Who are we kidding? It’s me we need to be worrying about.
Or not… apparently.
Luc hurtles into the room, clutching Tomos’ favourite teddy to his chest, head down. He dives onto our bed with a small hiccupy breath, hiding his face.
“I don’t want Tomos to go.” He whispers as the tears start to fall.
We cuddle on the bed, not speaking. It will be Luc’s first ever night away from Tomos that he can remember. They have shared a room since Luc was a baby. If they stay over with grandparents, they want to go together. They are best buds.
But we both know Tomos has to go. It’s his first primary school residential trip and he wants to go. He’s excited to go. He’s nervous to go.
We try and keep it light on the way to school. Tomos is full of a overwhelming mix of anticipation, excitement, anxiety. Luc is silent. One hundred percent devastated.
We walk into the school yard, following the trail of other kids with their little suitcases or holdalls. Tomos grabs his stuff off Daddy and in a sudden anxiety rush he runs in. Not a wave or a cuddle. Just gone.
Luc buries his face into Daddy’s chest – he can’t watch. I can – just. My last opportunity to see that he is safe, happy, whole.
Deep breath. You got this. (And you gotta get his brother through this!)
Day 2: Saturday
It’s weird waking up the next morning. It’s quiet. Eerily quiet. One big presence missing.
Luc is back in with us, still clutching Tomos’ teddy. A little lost without his partner in crime. Best friend. Big brother.
“When will Tomos be home?” He asks sadly.
“At lunchtime.” Only four hours away.
“So, can we have lunch now?” He asks hopefully.
Who were we kidding? Of course I can do this. It was Luc we needed to be worrying about.
More Stories...
Read Tomos’ story – My First School Residential Trip: All the Best Bits
More Information On First School Residential Trips
Click here for more information on what a primary school residential trip involves.
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