When my son, Tyler, was deployed for a year with the National Guard, he took extra measures to prepare me for the emotional rollercoaster of missing him. Understanding my tendency for dramatic meltdowns, he set up a Skype account for us to video chat during his time in Iraq. Now, I’m not saying it was a flawless system like you see on those crime shows—more like a vintage video game complete with fuzzy visuals and a bit of lag—but I relished every “Hi, Mom!” I could get, even if it came with a side of pixelation.
Whenever Tyler’s Skype call came through, my computer would chime like a whimsical little bell. Due to the time difference between Oregon and Iraq, these calls often happened in the dead of night. So I honed my senses to that sound, and I could hear it from any corner of the house, day or night.
One particularly sweltering summer night, I was sprawled in bed when I caught that familiar chime echoing from down the hall. I leaped out of bed and sprinted to my computer, tapping the bright green “Answer Call” icon with the speed of a caffeinated squirrel. Tyler’s face appeared, beaming as ever, but then I heard his voice explode through the speakers: “OH MY GOD, MOM!!! Are you NAKED?!?”
In a shocking moment of realization, I glanced down and saw that I was only wearing my husband’s boxers. Panic-stricken, I dove to the floor, taking out a chair in the process, and crawled on my knees towards the bedroom closet, desperately trying to locate a t-shirt. “Wait! Wait! Don’t hang up!!” I shouted while waving my free arm in front of the computer like a madwoman. Meanwhile, Tyler’s Army buddies erupted in laughter, clearly enjoying the show.
“Mom! MOM!! Click the ‘AUDIO ONLY’ button! It’s on your left! AUDIO ONLY!!” he yelled. “No, wait! I’m here! DON’T HANG UP!” I continued to shout, fumbling until I finally snagged a massive t-shirt and hurriedly pulled it over my head. I scrambled back into view, somewhat presentable for a video chat with my child.
Tyler looked at me, chuckling dryly. “You realize that when I come back, if anyone asks me about the most traumatic thing I experienced over here, I’ll have to say ‘MY MOTHER,’ right?” It seems that no matter how old they get, parents can still leave a lasting impression—sometimes, one that scars for life.
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Summary:
This humorous account shares a mother’s embarrassing moment during a Skype call with her son, who is deployed in Iraq. In a frantic rush to answer the call, she realizes she’s not appropriately dressed, prompting laughter from her son and his friends. This incident serves as a reminder that parents can leave lasting memories—sometimes, for better or worse!