BAGGAGE
Riding in the 1990's Ford van Jocelyn decided it was time to
let them know what her future plans consisted of. The old leather suddenly felt
sticky under her skin and her mouth was dry. Her jean shorts and white tee
soaked up the sweat that moistened her skin. Sucking her teeth and licking her
thin lips she started detailing the college information. The first question was
what the start date was and she answered with September. That was easy, she
thought. But everything went quiet when she mentioned living on campus.
The only penetrating sounds were the muffler competing with the New York City
traffic. The traffic won with its noisy vehicles and honks forcing themselves
through. At the red light, they both turned and stared at her simultaneously.
She lowered her head not knowing what to expect while her mind cluttered with
thoughts. Papi is surely to cry seeing his nena leave and Mami will be
joyous. The light turned green and their heads with it. Silence continued
to hover until they arrived at home.
Reminiscence
chapter 1
Your son or daughter
has spoken the promising words, “Mom, Dad… I’m going to college.” Perhaps your child had decided that college isn't for them and simply decided to get a job and move out.
They’ve shared their career choice and you’ve probably helped them with the process.
What they may not have told you, until the last moment, is what Jocelyn Rodriguez told her parents. Unlike Jocelyn, their thoughts and emotions weren’t conveyed.
They’ve shared their career choice and you’ve probably helped them with the process.
What they may not have told you, until the last moment, is what Jocelyn Rodriguez told her parents. Unlike Jocelyn, their thoughts and emotions weren’t conveyed.
- If you’re a parent reading this, take the time to think of how you’d feel.
- If you’re a teen reading this, take a moment to think on what your parents would say.
Hopefully you’ve
paused for a thought or two, because the next question may be a biggie.
Have you thought about why?
Mom … Dad,
why does your child want to move out?
Daughter …
Son, why do you want to leave home?
Is it
independence or escape?
You’re
probably staring at both words and thinking how contradicting they are to one
another. But then, you may be looking at the one and thinking why would he or
she want to… ?
Well,
everyone has baggage they want to rid themselves of. It may be a person, place
or thing that enforces a moving forward that may equal into the betterment of
oneself.
Please take note;
I’m using the word ‘may,’ because it could be one of their worst choices. And, here’s the twist. Perhaps i'ts not because of you (parent or teen) but because of other people.
Thoughts flooded her mind with too many questions that
brought many emotions. I already miss my parents. It would be awhile
before she saw them again. She wasn’t sure whether to be excited to meet her
roommate or not. Who is she, what’s her name and what is her personality
going to be like? The living arrangement was another issue. How about
classes and teachers?
Reminiscence chapter 2
Watching your
child leave…
Watching
yourself enter college or your new place.
I don’t care
who you are, it hits the nerve. Despite of the fact that you thing
yourself mentally and emotionally prepared, you’re not.
1. You’re (finally) leaving home and
entering independence or escaping.
·
Just
in case you haven’t figured it out, it can be both.
It generates
to…
·
Another
level in life
·
A
different atmosphere
·
Numerous
of unknown that may or may not like you or you.
By the way, do you happen know how many frenemies you have?
2. How about the career of choice…?
Will it still
be the same by the end of the first semester or the end of this year? Will classes and professors impose a
change of mind? Will your boss(es) or colleagues, schedule or customers frustrate you?
3. How about the person staring back from
the mirror…
Will they
change for better or worse? Is there a true self hidden behind that shell your looking at?
As you may already know, changes bring change and at various levels. The question is, how will you (parent and teen) handle it?
As you may already know, changes bring change and at various levels. The question is, how will you (parent and teen) handle it?
Jocelyn Rodriguez
discovered what was and wasn’t true. She also re-encountered things she had deleted from her past. Perhaps you’ll reunite with someone, good
and bad. Perhaps you’ll have a smooth ride without the challenges. Either way,
you’ll have a story to tell.
I encourage you
to read Jocelyn’s story so you, parent and teen, can know what to do or what
not to do.
