Almost Home Alone!

At 12 years old, Patrick kept insisting that he was old enough to stay at home by himself if we wanted to go out to dinner or run an errand or two.  He’s practically grown up, he’s old enough to babysit, he can take care of himself – all kinds of reasons were coming out of him.   But film clips from all the “Home Alone” movies would zap through my head every time he brought up this suggestion.  My husband and I were on the fence about it, but we knew we had to give it a try should the right opportunity present itself. 

One spring evening, John and I wanted to go out to dinner, but Patrick had other plans and refused to come with us.   He pleaded that we leave him home alone.  John and I looked at each other and agreed that maybe this would be the first time.

John is a big weather fanatic, always catching it on the news and watching the clouds.  He’s also into emergency preparedness and often combines the two.  As we were grabbing our coats and keys to head out, John told Patrick where the flashlights were and where the fire extinguisher was.  He also put the house phone on the kitchen table with our cell numbers written out, and instructed Patrick to stay away from glass windows in the event of a tornado.  He further told Patrick if he heard the air raid sirens, to take the flashlight, phone and dog into the basement immediately.

By this time, I was already in the car waiting to pull out of the garage because I have heard John go into protect-mode many times before and didn’t need to hear it again, although this was the first time it was directed to Patrick.   Finally, John came out of the house and got in the car.  I backed up about two feet when all of a sudden there was some very loud pounding on my driver’s side window.  It startled the heck out of me and I hit the brakes and snapped my head around, only to see our little boy crying his eyes out, trying to catch us before we left. 

“Don’t leave me, Mema!   I want to come with you!!!”

John’s weather speech turned our brave young man back into my little sweetie-beatie.  I guess we’ll have to try this when it’s not tornado season!