As winter approaches and college students prepare to return home for the holidays, travel can be a daunting experience for both students and their parents. After enjoying mild California winters for years, I found myself gripped by anxiety when my son, Jake, was set to fly home from the University of Wisconsin for his first Christmas break. My initial approach was typical of any concerned mother: I began monitoring the weather forecasts two weeks prior to his departure.
My obsession quickly escalated into a daily ritual of checking the hourly forecasts for Madison, Wisconsin, the connecting airport in Denver, and our destination in Monterey, California. Armed with detailed information on temperatures, wind speeds, humidity levels, and precipitation probabilities, I became consumed by the potential challenges Jake might face during his journey.
This preoccupation with the weather proved to be more hazardous than the actual conditions themselves. I even found myself questioning whether my excessive worrying could influence the weather patterns. To my dismay, it seemed to have an effect; all flights out of Madison were cancelled the day Jake was supposed to travel.
Fortunately, my neurotic tendencies allowed me to spring into action. While Jake was busy taking his final exam, I devised an alternative travel plan. I secured the last available ticket for a flight out of Chicago to the West Coast. However, this meant a taxi ride to Madison’s airport followed by a 3-hour bus ride to O’Hare in Chicago. After informing Jake of the new plan, I felt a wave of relief knowing he was a responsible young man capable of handling the situation.
But my sense of calm was short-lived. With the endless information available online, I found myself spiraling into a panic. I started to see reports of delays in Chicago due to fog, which could impact both the airport and the roads where Jake’s bus was traveling. The thought of heavy holiday traffic compounded my anxiety about potential accidents.
Although I recognized the dangers of over-parenting, I couldn’t resist sending Jake a text suggesting he should wait in Madison until conditions improved. When he didn’t respond, I spiraled into worry, questioning whether he was still in Madison, on the bus, or caught up in an accident. My attempts to maintain a composed demeanor crumbled as I sent another text, assuring him that I wasn’t panicking—yet.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Jake responded. He had been asleep on the bus, unaware of my frantic messages. He had safely arrived at O’Hare and was waiting to board his flight home, demonstrating that he had managed the situation like a typical college student. In that moment, I could finally relax and act like a normal mother, reassuring him that I would see him that evening at the San Jose airport.
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In summary, while the anxieties surrounding holiday travel can sometimes feel overwhelming, it’s essential to trust in the resilience of our children and allow them to navigate their journeys independently.
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