For college students making their way home for the holiday season, traveling during Christmas break can feel like an endurance test. And let’s be real, it’s no cakewalk for the parents either.
After years of basking in California’s sunny climate, the thought of winter travel sends shivers down my spine. So, when my son, Alex, had to fly back from the University of Wisconsin for his first Christmas break, I transformed into the mother from the Land of Neurosis.
Like any typical mom, I started by checking the weather forecast for his journey. But, let’s just say I took it a bit too far. I began obsessively checking the weather two weeks in advance—multiple times a day, mind you.
Those hourly weather forecasts are probably a lifesaver for pilots and truck drivers, but for a mom like me? It’s a recipe for worry.
It was mid-December, so it was no shocker that snow was predicted in several Midwest states. Naturally, that meant my anxiety levels skyrocketed. Almost a week before his flight, I obsessively tracked the weather in Madison, Wisconsin, where Alex was, Denver, where he’d have a layover, and Monterey, California, his final destination.
I knew the temperature, wind speed, humidity, and even the chance of precipitation at all three stops on his journey. Ironically, my frantic behavior was more perilous than the weather itself.
Sometimes, I wonder if my worries might actually influence the universe. Spoiler alert: they might.
When Alex arrived at the Madison airport, he found out that all flights were canceled. Surprise, surprise. Lucky for me, I had already devised a backup plan. That’s the perk of being neurotic—I managed to snag the last ticket on a flight from Chicago to the West Coast.
This new route required a quick taxi ride from his dorm to the Madison airport, followed by a 3-hour bus ride to O’Hare in Chicago. I called Alex and shared the new plan. He’s a smart kid, so I figured I could finally relax and prepare to pick him up at San Jose airport that evening.
But, of course, that’s not what really happened.
The internet can be a labyrinth for anxious parents. With a few clicks, I discovered that some flights in Chicago were delayed and that fog was rolling in. Fog in Chicago could mean trouble—not just at the airport but also on the highway where Alex’s bus would be traveling.
Considering the inevitable holiday traffic, I couldn’t help but envision a potential disaster. What if Alex wasn’t even on the bus yet? Maybe he should just stay in Madison an extra day to avoid any catastrophe on the road to Chicago.
Thank goodness I live in a warm climate—otherwise, my overactive imagination would be completely exhausted.
I know the dangers of over-parenting and have made a conscious effort to limit my calls and texts to Alex. Besides, he mentioned his phone battery was low, which adds another layer of stress.
But, lo and behold, after only an hour, I started to crack. I texted him: “What if you wait in Madison until the fog clears? Skip Chicago and come home tomorrow.”
No response. Does that mean he’s still in Madison? On the bus? Or, heaven forbid, caught in some kind of accident on the highway?
After another hour, I tried to sound casual in my third text: “Just checking in. Where are you?”
Fifteen minutes later, I sent another message: “I’m not panicking…yet.”
Meanwhile, I kept clicking away, checking the weather in Chicago, the status of his flight, and even the status of earlier flights from Chicago to San Jose. I briefly considered checking in with the Wisconsin Highway Patrol, but then I thought better of it.
Finally, Alex texted back. His phone battery was low, and he didn’t realize I was worried. He had fallen asleep on the bus and only saw my frantic messages when he woke up. Guess what? He was already at O’Hare, waiting to board his flight home.
In other words, he was just being a normal kid. And finally, I managed to act like a normal mom, casually telling him I’d see him at San Jose airport that night.
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In the end, the holiday travel saga was just another reminder that sometimes, we all need to let go and trust that our kids can handle things on their own.