Goodbye.......

I was watching a daytime talk show recently and the subject of saying goodbye came up – specifically how easy or hard do you find saying Goodbye.

I’m one of those people who has to hug and kiss my friends/relatives when saying goodbye but I know a lot of people who would just rather throw a wave in your general direction as they rush out of the door.

The hardest goodbye I’ve ever had to say was to our youngest son when we left him at his digs in Huddersfield when he started university. We’d done a few trips there before the big day – well I had to make sure it was clean before my baby moved in – and of course there was the inevitable ‘supplies’ of bedding, food and cleaning materials etc., etc., to be transported. When the ‘actual’ day came I wanted it to be a happy occasion – “You’ll be fine darling, ring us at least once a week to let us know how happy you are”, you know what I mean. What actually happened was somewhat different. We did all the jolly stuff like I’ve just mentioned, then he stood at the gate as we drove away, waving at us until we reached the top of the hill and turned the corner. I don’t know if he had tears because he was just a blur through mine! I was distraught and MWM was struggling to hold back the gush of water just desperate to sprout from his eyes. An hour or so later, when we got home, I had calmed down but the sadness of leaving my baby to fend for himself was overwhelming, he may have been 18 but he was still my baby! MWM made all the right noises – “He’ll be fine, stop worrying, he’ll have the time of his life”. He said it often and almost convinced me.

The next morning the postman pushed an envelope through our letterbox and as I bent to pick it up I recognised the handwriting – it was my baby’s! I tore open the letter and the first sentence broke my heart……

Dear Mum and Dad

It’s half-an-hour since you left me here and I am sitting in my room writing this because I miss you……..

He must have written it and gone out to post it straight away! How could I have said “Goodbye” and just left him?

I’m a BAD mother!

What has been the hardest goodbye you’ve ever said and are you a “I’m going now cheerio, mwah, mwah” sort of person, or do you sneak out hoping no-one will notice?