Wednesday, September 24, 2008

They are ganging up on me now

Last night, Kellen and Kendrie and I were in the van together, driving to (where else? The black hole of my life) soccer practice. Out of the blue, Kendrie asked, “Mom, when are we moving back to Georgia?”

I sort of sighed to myself, because I had hoped we were past that --- past the missing of friends so much that she wants to pack up and go back. Right after we moved to Oklahoma, she told us constantly that she wanted to move “home” to Georgia, but I hadn’t heard it in a while, so I had hoped she was finally feeling settled here.

“Honey,” I replied, “we’re not moving back to Georgia. Oklahoma is our home for good now. We’re never moving again.”

“Pssschnnghhhh!” (You know that noise? That goofy, nasally noise that people make when they’re trying to get a point across? Yeah, that was the noise Kendrie made just then, even if I don’t know how to spell it.) “Maybe YOU’RE not moving back, but I am! As soon as I turn 16 and get a car, I’m out of here!”

She was laughing when she said it, so I don’t think it was anything sinister … just that she was making clear the point that her heart still lies in Georgia (Hello, Nicholas! I’m looking at you!!)(Even though, I have to admit, Matt is growing on me more and more every day.)(And how funny is it that Kendrie refers to them as "her Georgia boyfriend" and "her Oklahoma boyfriend."??)(Good grief, do nine-year olds understand the concept of bigamy???)

“Well, you can stay here, but I am GONE when I turn 16!”Then, she said, in a sheepish little voice, “But, um, I’ll need you to give me directions.”

I was taking a deep breath, to try and explain to her about “good” friends and “old” friends, and how I’m so happy she still feels strong ties to her old school and old friends, but that, in all reality …. Sixteen is a life-time away. While I certainly hope she is still in touch, and still has fond memories of Georgia and our time there, I doubt she will still feel like relocating once that time comes. Instead, I want her to be entrenched here, with her new friends, and her time with family, and to be happy and content with her Oklahoma life. It's hard to explain to a nine-year old that they won't always feel like they feel now, but I guess I needed to try.

Kellen, however, beat me to the punch.

He said to her, “Kendrie, things will be SO different by the time you are sixteen!”

“Ahhh, good!” I thought, “He *gets* it. Maybe coming from him, the concept of faraway and long-away will seem more reasonable. I’m so glad to know I’ve got such a reasonable, practical son.”

Then he burst my bubble with the following words: “By the time you’re sixteen, you’ll know how to read a map! You won’t need mom to give you directions!!”

17 comments:

DeborahB said...

I'd love it if you'd move back to Ohio, but oh well!

Anonymous said...

TOO Funny!!!! That's just priceless!

On another note, I have started a million emails to you, but have come to the conclusion that there just are no words.....I am so sorry that you guys are having to start down this path again. Please know that, while I may not be the greatest at conveying my sympathy & support, or offering ANY "words of wisdom" that don't sound totally cliche - you all are in my thoughts & prayers daily.....

I only hope that you all can feel the enormous "cheering section" you have!!

Love, Kristin

Alice said...

Got to love that your kids are thinking ahead. I think it is so sweet how much she still loves Nickolas. It makes my heart burst every time I read about it, because there is nothing more pure.

But the story did make me laugh out loud. Out of the mouths of babes...

J-Quell'n said...

LOL...I'm glad you are in Oklahoma because you're not so very far up the interstate from me.

Anonymous said...

That is so funny! Nothing like a little logic in the back seat! Hahaha!
Tammy in Ohio

Anonymous said...

LOL Kristie!!!! Though, I don't know that I see Kendrie being sixteen as "a world away." Seems like just yesterday I read Julianna's (Terry's) post about what life would be like post "c" for Julianna and Kendrie, the beauty queen teenager...... Now, Kendrie's already a whopping nine years old. Then it seemed like Kendrie and Julianna's teenage days were world away, now, not so much.

Pardon me for being sappy, but my own girl's 6th birthday is next week, and I'm really starting to see how fast time flies. I thought it was going fast before, by now........ sigh......

Praying for you All!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Pssst. Kendrie. Take I-35 to Dallas. Hop on I-20 east. Then take 285 south around Atlanta to 75 south.

The Traveling Yogi said...

Your kids crack me up. Even if she falls in love with Oklahoma, I hope Kendrie continues to stay in touch with Nicholas. First loves are kind of special.

Pam D said...

I find it funny that we each have our own concept of "home". Georgia is the first place Kendrie really remembers, and so it will always be her first "home". But eventually (most likely by the time she can read a map and drive), Oklahoma will have found it's own definition of "home" in her heart. But Kendrie, you'll always be a Georgia girl to those of us who live here! (spoken like a true Tennessee native....)

Anonymous said...

You should consider yourself lucky...I mean really all she expected were directions, my kids would probably want a drive and drop off laundry service to boot :) Yesterday a reading buddy, today planning to leave home....boy they grow up fast....

Bridget from Canada

Anonymous said...

I L*O*V*E your kids, and I don't even personally know them!!
~Debbie~
Hoover, Alabama

Anonymous said...

http://web.mac.com/cschobert/Site/Our_Family_Blog/Entries/2008/9/22_My_New_3-Wheeler.html

Just wanted to show you that I finally got the same bike at Wal-mart.

-Catherine

Anonymous said...

Will asked three days ago "So when are the Escoes moving back?" They must be on the same wavelength.

Natalie said...

Hilarious! You should take these kids on the road.

Although, does she know that women aren't genetically programmed to read maps? Not to be hard on our gender or anything. Wait. What am I saying? She'll just use Mapquest. Or maybe by then she can just teleport herself or something.

Anonymous said...

Too funny. You could try the approach my parents always did: "Great, so for your 16th birthday we'll get you a suitcase." They never argued with our plans.

Anonymous said...

We just moved last week and I can totally relate to Kendrie's homesickness. And I am a grown-up (or so my driver's license says..) I just keep telling myself that my new house will be "home" soon, but my heart doesn't always believe.

Anonymous said...

Way too funny!!! She sounds just like my now 15 year old, who has told me she's "so outta here" when she's 16. She said that a few years ago, and I think that while she'd still love to be outta here, she gets that it's not that realistic. And, just for the record, we have never moved. She just says it because she is always pissed off at me for one thing or another. (sigh)