Am I going to end up in the freezer?

I have two amazing daughters and I’m not just saying that because they are mine, they really are phenomenal human beings. I must have done something right along the way to deserve them.

My oldest one is almost 17 and since her trip to Europe last year, she has truly been bitten by the travel bug. I was both horrified and relieved when it was time for her to board the plane and leave me for 15 days and she didn’t shed one tear. I did so well keeping it together letting the tears flow only when I was a good distance away from the other parents so as not to embarrass her too much. But she’s my kid dammit and I was going to miss her terribly (and I did) so why not be able to cry?

And she didn’t cry for me on her whole trip and she couldn’t understand why I was crying happy tears when I picked her up. It really is a mix of emotions that first time you drop them off at daycare and they finally understand that you are leaving them and they don’t cry. They wave or give you one last hug and continue about their business.

My kids are going to grow up and have their own lives. What the fuck?

A couple of years ago there was a short film shown during the previews at the movies. It was about Lily and her best friend the snowman that she gradually forgets about until she has a young child of her own. I joked one time at the theatre that I was going to like the snowman in the freezer. My girls would grow up and forget about me and when they remembered, I’d be there in the freezer, a little burnt but so glad that they came back.

My little one assured me that she would NEVER leave me alone and that she would take care of me and I would never be that snowman. She says that now. She’s only 8.

My oldest one is not as sure. She can’t wait to go away to university. She can’t wait to get her license so she can do what she wants. She can’t wait to have her own life.

I guess I’m doing my job right. Even though the girls are like night and day in terms of their personalities, they are truly growing up to be independent, confident, strong women.

I guess being a snowman (snow woman?) in the freezer won’t be too bad. I just hope it’s in an exciting nursing home.