Homeschooling is looking kind of good right now.

We took the girl to boarding school over the weekend. 

I'm still kind of in denial.

I know she's not home [waking up the first morning back caused a physical ache - god, I'm a fucking wimp], but I feel, most of the time, like she's just away for the week at camp [not God Camp, thankfully] or at my parents or with my in-laws.  I've not quite reconciled myself to the fact that she's pretty fucking far away and won't be home for a while [not that I'm counting down the days, but the number 29 is kind of floating off in the ether].

The trip down was fine - she was a bit nervous, and I was focused on making sure I had all supplies ready and figuring out the optimal position for my heating pad [of course I brought it with me - did you know that Black & Decker makes a thingy that you can plug into your car and then you can PLUG IN a plug? AWESOME! HOORAY FOR TECHNOLOGY!].  The husband was focused on driving, which I applaud, what with me hating driving, and on cursing the Garmin my sister loaned us.  God, he really fucking hates that thing.  It's like it killed his dog.

I think we were all pretty tense, but the husband and I, being the grown ups, had to hide it.  We gave the girl pep talks and encouragement, all the while thinking, "Are we really doing this?"

And then we got to the school, and it was wonderful.  The girls cheered as we walked in to get the girl's dorm key and packet of information, which sounds hokey and I'm sure it kind of is, but was really, really sweet and nice, too.

We moved her stuff in, and suddenly there were five or six girls in there, helping make the bed and unpack and put stuff away, chattering about how much they love the girl's shoes and haircut and Oh My God, Do You Love Stephen Colbert? SO DO WE!

She fell in with them so easily and so wonderfully that we came home a day early.  Seriously.  We asked her if she wanted us to stay and she said, "Well, I'm going to be busy, so I don't want to feel bad that I'm doing stuff and you're here waiting around."

I managed not to cry.

So we came home.  We debated hanging out and enjoying a mini-vacation, but we were both so drained that by the time we got home and went to bed, I slept for almost 11 hours and spent the next day just vegging and reading [Undead and Unworthy, perfect brain candy.  Also, yes, it's true, I read some of Bossypants.  Again. I can't help myself.  It's an addiction.  I may need Betty Ford.] and not really doing much of anything. 

We've talked to the girl a couple of times since, and I'm trying really hard not to call her or text her every. single. second. just because I think of something funny to tell her or because I want to ask her a question or - mostly - because I want to see how she is. 

I miss my baby.