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Summer Visitation

© April Lee Schmidt

I am back to maintaining my mother/daughter relationship long distance again with Samantha for a short while. She left for Michigan yesterday to spend summer vacation with her father. The hardest part about maintaining a relationship especially from a distance is that I of course have no say over the house rules there.

I have to trust not only Samantha, and her father’s ability to parent a teen. I also have to have faith in myself. I have to trust that I have been a good teacher, example, and parent to Samantha. For some reason or the other trusting in one’s self can be the most difficult. Oh, I know I am not perfect but obviously, I must be doing something right. Samantha is a good student and a member of the Junior Honor Society. She has never been in trouble despite the obstacles and out side pressures, all teenagers face these days. She involves her self in our church’s youth group volunteering for community services. In fact, she recently joined the church by making a public profession of her faith.

So, what am I so worried about? I mean she will only be gone a month and a half. We will talk on the phone at least once a week, not mention communicating through e-mail as well as instant messaging on occasion. It must be those obstacles and outside pressures that worry me, not to mention the simple fact that we already miss her around here. With God’s grace and guidance, we will make it through another summer visitation.