Incessant Gibberish

I was 8 1/2 months pregnant, and it was the summer of 1990. Cody was four years old, going to be five in just a few months. Cody. My rock, my star, my perfect child that never gave me an ounce of trouble. He did everything if not by the book, before the book. He was wicked smart, totally adorable, polite and had the tenderest heart, and sweetest demeanor of any child I’ve ever known. He was reading at 4 years of age and made the highest score on the entrance exam into Kindergarten in the entire school. But Cody loved to be at home. He would stay with his Grandparents, but never with anyone else. We did everything together. I worked at his Dad’s upholstery shop, and in the mornings before I dropped him off at his Grandma’s house, we’d go to a place called Fondo’s where we’d have breakfast together and the waitress would dote over him and have the cook make him special tiny pancakes, sometimes in different shapes. We were so tight, and so in tune with each other. Like best friends. He would play with kids of my friends just fine, but when it was time to go he was not about to stay a little longer so I could get shopping done or go to an appointment. I didn’t have the heart to make him.

That June, I had signed him up for a week-long day camp called “Safety Town”. It’s a fun place at a private school where they take their bikes and swim trunks and learn to ride and swim safely. They painted, made crafts, interacted with other kids their own age, and I’ve gotta tell ya… I was ready for a break with Preston being due in just a few short weeks. I told Cody about Safety Town and he wanted no part of it. I explained how much fun he was going to have and that Lawson and Staley and all his friends would be there. I could see the fear in his eyes at the thought of me leaving him somewhere other than with a family member.

We always want what’s best for our kids. I was determined he would go to Safety Town, and he was determined not to go. I loaded up his bike in the back of my Honda, and the sun was already baking temperature outside. I had his bag packed, the forms had already been filled out and it was paid for. When it came time to put Cody in the car, he started crying. It was breaking my heart! I hated to make him do something he didn’t want to do, but I knew he would love it once he got there… I just had to get him there! I picked him up and put him in the car and strapped his safety belt on and tears were rolling down his cheeks. I kept saying to myself, “You can do this. Be strong. It’s for his own good!”

We arrived in the parking lot and the place was buzzing with kids and parents finding the right age group and rooms to meet in. It was so hot, and I was still sweating, my hair was plastered to my head… but I got Cody’s Schwinn bike with training wheels and his bag out of the car. Now I just had to get Cody. He put up a fight like I’ve never seen. I got him out of the car screaming at the tops of his lungs. I was so angry because he refused to be open-minded and trust me that he was going to have fun! He dug his heels into the ground, but I stood mine. I took him by the hand and literally drug him into his class. By that time, I was in tears. One of the teenage girls, Shelby, helping in the classroom came over and said hello to Cody and I, but Cody would not stop crying and by then I couldn’t either. She showed Cody the crayons and craft table and tried to persuade him to sit down and color, but as long as I was there he was crying. Finally, I asked Shelby for the phone number there, I bent down and hugged Cody and gave him a kiss. I told him I loved him and to have fun, and I left. I was so thankful for Shelby and her kindness.

When I got outside, my tears flowed like a river. My baby thought I betrayed him! I drove off and I had to go by the bank. The ladies at the window knew me, and they were huge fans of Cody’s. They asked me what was wrong and I told them and you could see the empathy pouring from their faces. Man, that made me cry even harder. I went home and called my girlfriend Sharon, and cried some more. Then I picked up the phone and dialed Safety Town and asked to speak to Shelby. Shelby got on the phone and I asked her how Cody was doing. She told me he quit crying by the time I got in my car. -.- I didn’t quit crying all day! I was exhausted, got no work done that day… and he couldn’t WAIT to go back the next. We often laugh about this story now, and use it for an occasional analogy or inside joke.

Today, some 18 years later… I’m trying to do the same thing again, except drag Cody to college. He thinks it takes too long. He was in a band. They don’t have the classes he needs for a music major. The piano class he took was a joke. He won’t move to Dallas to go to school here. He doesn’t have time. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. I am not giving up. He is so smart, and has his WHOLE LIFE ahead of him. I can’t stop now, I want what’s best for him. I hope he understands that and keeps on putting up with my constant talk of him going. He is still - and always will be - my rock and my star… but got damn it I want him to have a better life than I do. I will never stop trying to drag him to Safety Town, although I know how to stop talking about it right before he blows. heh

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 13th, 2007 at 4:13 pm and is filed under cody, Daily Gibberish. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.