Punkin loves a set of two videos she received from one of her Great-Grandmas for her birthday. The title in Punkin language is "The City Mouse and The Crunchy Mouse." Everyone else calls it "The City Mouse and The Country Mouse."

Since the change in my hair color, Punkin will occasionally tell me "I like your gray hair, Mom." Um, yeah, thanks kiddo.

Apparently I've been rushing her a little much lately... I asked her if she wanted to start the dishwasher this morning, a task that she loves doing. She just turns the dial and it starts. This morning, however, she told me "I don't have time." (Yes, this comment disturbs me and serves to remind me that time with her is more important than anything.)

I'm in full blown "worried Mom" mode. When I asked Hubby to be patient with me, he smiled and said he has been.

Whenever we go on a trip, (something that doesn't happen very often), I get all nervous that everything is just so for when we're gone, and that we have everything we need for the trip, and that everything is/will be taken care of. Maybe it's the control freak in me, maybe it's just being nervous. Whatever the reason, I just start worrying about every little teensy tiny, itty bitty thing from now until our return.

Especially when Punkin isn't coming with us. She will be in the trusted and capable hands of a relative. Before then, however, I have to make lists and remember what to pack for her and for us, anticipate what she may need and what we'll need, write out instructions, emergency numbers and information, our itinerary, make sure we have the tickets, etc. etc. etc.

The last time we went away Punkin was not quite 2 years old. She was in the loving care of a Grandma. This Grandma was aware of my slight wiggy-ness (understatement) and asked me to write out Punkin's daily schedule and include that in the little booklet of information I prayed would not be needed.

When the time came to go, I had a hard time. (another understatement) It was the first time we had ever left her with someone else to get on a plane and travel halfway across the country. All the "what ifs" tormented me. It took me two days to relax.

When we called Grandma during that trip to see how things were going, Punkin was far more interested in talking to Daddy, than Mommy. The first day we checked in with "home," I asked Grandma what they were doing. "Well, we had breakfast for three hours today." "WHAT?! Um, ok... WHY did I write out that daily schedule?" That's when it dawned on me... that schedule wasn't for her, it was for me. To help me feel better. That Grandma is a sly one.

This time around I'm worried that Punkin may not have enough medicine. Will her cough get worse? How will she be with the pets in the house? Will she fall off the bed? Will she miss us? Will she not miss us? Have I forgotten anything?

To combat this, I've put the "instruction manual" together to (hopefully) answer any question her caretaker may have, I've ordered a refill of her medicine, I'm taking her to the doctor to have that cough checked out before we go, and will get advice about combatting her allergies while we're gone.

Let me just say that we trust this relative completely with our only daughter. If we didn't, she wouldn't be there. I'm just feeling a "Mom Thing." You know, that whole "what if something happens and I'm not there for her?" kind of slight queasiness in the pit of my stomach.

I'm so looking forward to this trip, I truly am. It's just that... well... you know... I know that Punkin will be having a blast without us. I know that we're going to enjoy this trip. *sigh* I just wonder if they making something like Dramamine for Separation Anxiety, mine, not hers.

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