The Tether
This son of mine. He is attached to me. We are connected at all times it seems. Tethered. This tether. It’s his lifeline. I am his lifeline. Our tether has shortened dramatically since his world was turned upside down by COVID-19. If I go outside to check the mail or step in the garage to get something out of the car and I don’t first tell him what I’m doing, his anxiety goes from 1 to 10. He begins to pace. If I get stopped by a neighbor or if I pause too long for any reason, panic will start to creep in. He will say, “where are you” over and over until he sees me again. If I leave the house without him, he will say “mom be back in a little bit” on repeat, literally, for as long as I’m away. The tether had gotten fairly long prior to March 2020. He didn’t really bat an eye if I left the house for a little while in the evening or on the weekend. I could leave with peace of mind, knowing he wasn’t upset or anxious. Now, when I’m away from him I feel a constant tug pulling me home. ...