my son came home today | eyes's Blog

I knew it was coming. Today was Monday, and I knew it would be today. I just didn't realize how I would feel.



I spent the last couple of years working with Daniel at the school. His home life is seriously fucked up, and he was clinging to me, needing someone to give a damn about him. I worked hard to build his self-esteem, to help him get on track in school, to help him work on his writing skills - he wants to be an author. He called me his real mom.



Then, just as school was ending, his mother decided she didn't want him living in her boyfriend's house anymore and informed him that he was homeless. God, that was a horrible horrible day. Every one of his friends was freaking out. One of them convinced his parents to let Daniel stay with him until the end of the school year - meanwhile he tracked down his deadbeat dad, and convinced him to let him move halfway across the great state of Texas to live with him. So, when summer started, my self-proclaimed son left.



He e-mailed me, kept me updated on how he was doing. Sometimes he was okay, most of the time he hated it there. Right now he is pretty happy. Anyhow, a couple of weeks ago he told me he would be back home for Thanksgiving - spending it with the friend who took him in. He asked permission to come hang out in my classroom today.



I knew I was worried about him, I knew I missed him. I knew he missed me. His friends still at the school kept telling me how excited he was to be able to come up to the school and hang out with me.



Then this morning, the bell rang, and we were getting settled in. I hear heavy running footsteps in the hall, and I know who it is.



I was out of my desk and walking towards the door when he came bolting in.



I don't like hugs usually, but that was one of the best hugs I've ever gotten. I almost started crying. I think he did too. My whole class stopped and looked up. He didn't want to let go, but you know how it is...



He introduced himself to my class as my son.



God it was good to see him, to really know he is doing okay, to hear him say it, and see him smile when he talks about how things are finally getting okay up there.



I did not expect how emotional it would make me. I thought it would be more like when I haven't seen my babies all summer and they come running down the hall and practically tackle me the first day of school. I didn't realize how scared I was that he wasn't going to be okay, wasn't going to adjust.



I am so happy and so relieved.