Boy On A Camel
Hey, what about us! We want to hear from our kids, too!” I heard from my baby boomer friends almost as soon as I started writing Make Mom Happy By Mail. Since the idea to connect with our parents had come from my mom when she asked that I send her more mail, I hadn’t thought much beyond those in her generation. After all, they’re not busy and surely mail means more to them than to my peers I thought.
“I’d give anything to hear from my 25 year old son in New York!” the successful speaking coach mom told me.
“I love getting a call from my daughter. She tells me everything about her life” The Palm Springs golfer mom told me.
“I know it’s silly but I just wish my boys would be more thoughtful about cards for birthdays and anniversaries. When they were little, I always bought them cards to give to their dad so they know it’s important to me but they just don’t do it and I wish they would.” The high-powered attorney mom told me.
When I thought about it, I knew just what they meant. A few years ago when my son, Jack, was studying in Italy, I could hardly wait to open my computer in the morning to check e-mail to see if he’d sent me a message. I loved seeing his name on my e-mail list and always opened his message first. Where was he? What was he doing? Was he happy or sad or broke? I wanted to know it all. If he attached a picture, I studied every detail to be sure he was OK.
Once I was worried because I hadn’t heard in a week. When I sent worried e-mails, a picture labeled, “Boy on a Camel” arrived and told me he was visiting a friend in Cairo- having the time of his life. “I thought you might worry about me being in Cairo so I just laid low for a while.” He said. I was relieved and looked at that picture for a long time.
Our on-going e-mail string from that trip made a great travel log for him when the trip was over. More importantly, it made those ten weeks go a lot faster for the concerned Mom back home.
Unlike our own parents, my friends and I are delighted with e-mail messages from our children. For us, those messages carry the same thoughtfulness and connection that a hand-written letter does for our parents. I save his e-mail messages and lots of his voice messages too. Don’t mention it to my independent twenty four year old but I sometimes I replay old voice messages just for the pleasure of hearing my little boy’s voice.
It seems that parents are parents and we all value communication with our children. Are you listening Jack, Ben, Emily, Jessica, Daniel and other 20 or 30 somethings? Your Moms would love to hear from you today. E-mail is fine. A call is fine. A visit is fine.
A postcard is fine. We miss you as babies and love you as grown-ups. Please stay in touch with your mom.
Please send me your stories so I can share them with others.
Be well and bring joy
2 comments Trudy | Beyond Mail, Not Just for Mom
Sometimes worry is good for a family.
Early this month, Shane traveled to Germany on business. It was his first trip with a new company, and luckily his boss from Tokyo went along. They got stuck in Europe due to the volcano eruption in Iceland. But he kept e-mailing me with travel updates. And his wife, Yumi, and I exchanged several calls just to give each other support and updates. The mutual worry brought us closer.
After a train ride to Rome, a flight to Istanbul, and finally a flight to Tokyo, he got home just in time for Leika’s fourth birthday last Sunday. It was great that they included me in the experience. It let me know that they know how much I care. Hugs to you, Trudy
Love the boy on the Camel..It is so funny to think all we need is just the hear from them in someway shape or form..