During my son Ryan’s year-long deployment in Iraq with the National Guard, I found myself anticipating my emotional breakdowns over his absence. To facilitate our communication, he set up a Skype account for us, allowing us to connect through video calls. While the quality of the video was far from the seamless experience depicted on TV shows like NCIS, which feature crystal-clear visuals and perfectly synchronized audio, I was still thrilled to see his warm smile and hear him say, “Hi, Mom,” every few weeks.
Whenever Ryan initiated a Skype call, my computer would emit a charming little chime, reminiscent of a tiny bell. Due to the substantial time difference between Oregon and Iraq, these calls often came in the middle of the night. Missing one could mean days or weeks without another chance to chat, so I honed my ability to recognize that sound from anywhere in the house, day or night.
One particularly humid summer night, I was lying in bed when I heard that familiar bell sound echoing from down the hall. I sprang out of bed and dashed to my computer to click the bright green “Answer Call” icon. Ryan’s beaming face appeared, but then I heard him exclaim, “OH MY GOD, MOM!!! Are you NAKED?!?” To my horror, I realized I was only wearing my partner’s boxers.
In a panic, I dove to the floor, colliding with a chair as I crawled on my knees and one hand toward the closet to grab a t-shirt. I waved my other arm in front of the screen, frantically shouting, “Wait! Don’t hang up!!” Laughter erupted from Ryan’s Army friends in the background as he yelled, “Mom! Click the ‘AUDIO ONLY’ button! It’s on your left! AUDIO ONLY!!” “No, no! I’m here! DON’T HANG UP!” I continued to shout until I finally managed to pull an oversized t-shirt over my head, scrambling back to the computer just in time to save face for our video chat.
Ryan looked at me, his expression deadpan, and said, “You realize when I get back and anyone asks me what the most traumatic thing I saw over here was, I’m going to have to say, ‘MY MOTHER.’” It seems that the potential for scarring our children never really fades, no matter their age.
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In conclusion, this experience serves as a reminder that our actions can leave lasting impressions on our children, often in unexpected ways.
Keyphrase: Traumatizing Your Children
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