By Emily Hoffman
    The Wauneta Breeze
    
     My college freshman, Josh, has been calling home a lot lately. I've taken to avoiding his calls. He tries to catch me at work, at home, and I'm certain if I had a cell phone he'd try to reach me at that number, too. He's looking for a check that came to my house instead of his dorm. He's waiting for the mail to arrive to see if it's there. Please don't tell him I haven't sent it yet.
     I keep losing his box number. Then I can't seem to locate his phone number to call him to get it. I'm embarrassed about the entire episode. After preaching responsibility for 19 years, from getting thank you notes written to taking out the trash to balancing his checkbook, I'm now the one dropping the ball. I need to get my act together before his summer break begins.
     I forget things. It's not that I mean to, it happens when I'm not looking.
     I forgot I had a lawn until I returned home on Sunday and looked at it after two days absence. It had grown, quite a lot and was noticeably past due for a mow. I forget laundry; forget I own a vacuum, a broom and a mop. I must admit I forget thank you notes, birthday cards and anniversary celebrations.
     Lucky for me-or maybe lucky for you-I don't forget to pay bills, or work deadlines or showering.
     Lucky for Josh I remembered to file my taxes and therefore did get his FAFSA filed on the early deadline.
     I never forget my younger children, and regularly feed them and transport them to events, and sign papers for the school.
     I do remember to turn my mind away from the long and ever present to-do list and simply enjoy my life.
     Josh and I will have to get back in the routine of living around each other again in a few weeks.
     Lately he thinks he misses being at home, but I tell him, "just wait." That feeling will go away by week two of living with me. After enjoying an entire year of not being reminded of anything, he's in for a shock.
     I can already feel a nag coming on.
     Whether he experiences the nags is iffy at this point because he won't make it home again unless I get that check sent.
     Does anyone know his box number?