Leaving the kids

Being the whole weekend in preparation mode, my daughter confronted me with her exam schedule, and the date she'll have her results, which for her is the most important day. April 2nd!, the date we are expected to be dropped on the ice. I explaned her that from that day onwards we would be not reachable on the mobile phone anymore. The tears came in her eyes "But with who other than you can I share this? I want to tell it to you, mom" It was a difficult moment as I couldn't really comfort her. I explained her the situation, that we would have contact every evening with our base station and that via e-mail, messages would get through to her, and vice versa, but it was not enough for her. She wanted to have that personal chat.

Although I know I took the right decision to go for this adventure, that it will bring me an exceptional richness and via me also to her, I felt bad about it. I was happy that I could share that odd feeling with one of my best friends. She will be the guardien, together with other friends, of our children. Our children will go with them to the South of France, and having such great friends and the generous offer they've done towards Lies and Wouter to give them a real holiday, and to us as parents, gave me a warm feeling. But still, leaving the kids behind for almost three weeks, will be for me one of the most difficult parts of the expedition. After all, dad is also joining...