For college students returning home for the holidays, the Christmas travel experience can be a nightmare. And for us parents? It can be just as stressful. After enjoying the sunny California weather for years, the thought of winter travel sends my anxiety levels soaring. When my son, Jake, had to fly home from the University of Wisconsin for his first Christmas break, I transformed into the quintessential overprotective mother.
I began like any concerned parent, poring over the weather forecasts for his upcoming trip. But unlike most, I started obsessively checking two weeks in advance—multiple times a day. Those hourly weather updates must be a blessing for pilots, boat captains, and long-haul truck drivers. For someone like me, they only intensify the worry.
Being mid-December, it was no surprise that snow was predicted across the Midwest. And, of course, that sent me into a frenzy. Almost a week before his departure, I was glued to the forecasts for Madison, Wisconsin, where Jake was, as well as Denver, where he would change flights, and Monterey, California, his final destination. I became an expert in temperature, wind speed, humidity, and the chance of precipitation—all crucial factors that could derail his travel plans.
Admittedly, I sometimes ponder the power of my overthinking. Could my worries actually influence weather patterns? Apparently, they can. When Jake arrived at the airport in Madison, he discovered that all flights had been canceled that day.
But fear not, my neurotic tendencies had prepared me for this. While Jake was busy with his final exam, blissfully unaware of my atmospheric interference, I was devising a backup plan. I snagged the last ticket on a flight from Chicago to the West Coast. This new route required a quick cab ride from his dorm to Madison’s airport, followed by a three-hour bus trip to O’Hare in Chicago.
I called Jake with the new itinerary. Given his responsible nature, I thought I could finally breathe easy and look forward to picking him up in San Jose that night. But that was not meant to be.
The internet can be a treacherous place for a worrying parent. With a few clicks, I learned that some flights from Chicago were delayed and that fog was rolling in, which could spell disaster not just at the airport but also on the highways where Jake’s bus would be traveling. Heavy holiday traffic added another layer of concern, raising the specter of accidents. I even considered that maybe Jake should just stay in Madison for another day to avoid the potential chaos on the road to Chicago.
Thank goodness I don’t live in a snowy area; the mental gymnastics would be exhausting. While I recognize the dangers of over-parenting, I’ve worked to limit my calls and texts. Plus, Jake had mentioned his phone battery was running low.
Still, I couldn’t help but send a few texts. “How about waiting in Madison until the fog lifts? Skip Chicago and come home tomorrow.” No reply. Was he still in Madison? On the bus? Or caught up in some calamity on the highway?
After another hour, I attempted to keep my cool with a casual message: “Just checking in to see where you are.” A half-hour later, I sent a third text: “I am not panicked….yet.”
In the meantime, I was busy checking the weather and flight statuses. I even considered consulting the Wisconsin Highway Patrol, which is a clear sign of my descent into madness.
Finally, Jake replied. His phone had died, and he hadn’t realized I was worried. He had fallen asleep on the bus to Chicago and woke up at O’Hare, ready to board his flight home. In other words, he was doing exactly what a normal college kid would do.
And at last, I could relax and act like a normal mother, assuring him I’d see him at San Jose airport that night.
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In summary, the holiday travel experience can trigger even the most composed parents into a state of anxiousness. While it’s natural to worry about loved ones, sometimes it’s best to step back and let them handle their own adventures.
Keyphrase: holiday travel anxiety
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