When my son was deployed for a year to Iraq with the National Guard, I anticipated a year filled with emotional upheaval, missing him dearly each day. To ease my maternal anxieties, he set me up with Skype before his departure, allowing us to connect through video calls occasionally. While the experience wasn’t quite as seamless as the crystal-clear video chats you see on shows like NCIS—where everything is perfectly in sync—it did allow me to catch glimpses of his radiant smile and hear those comforting words, “Hi, Mom,” every few weeks.
Jake’s calls would trigger a delightful chime on my computer, reminiscent of a tiny bell. Given the significant time difference between Oregon and Iraq, these calls often came in the middle of the night. Missing one could mean days or even weeks of waiting for the next, so I honed my senses to that sound, developing ears like a mother bat, able to detect it from any corner of the house.
One particularly warm and muggy summer night, I was nestled in bed when I heard that familiar chime echoing from down the hall. I sprang out of bed, racing to click the bright green “Answer Call” icon on my screen. Jake’s smiling face appeared, and just as I felt a rush of relief, I heard him exclaim, “OH MY GOD, MOM!!! Are you NAKED?!?” Panic set in as I glanced down and realized I was only wearing my husband’s boxers.
In a frantic scramble, I dove to the floor—unintentionally knocking over a chair—crawling on two knees and one hand toward Kenny’s closet to grab a t-shirt. Meanwhile, I waved my free arm in front of the computer, shouting, “Wait! Don’t hang up!!” From the background, I could hear Jake’s Army buddies laughing as they caught on to the scene unfolding. Jake shouted, “Mom! MOM!! Click the ‘AUDIO ONLY’ button! It’s on your left! AUDIO ONLY!!” “No, wait! I’m here! DON’T HANG UP!” I yelled back until, finally, I managed to pull on an oversized t-shirt and scrambled back to the computer, presentable for a video chat with my son.
Jake looked at me, deadpan, and quipped, “You realize that when I get back, if anyone asks what was the most traumatic thing I saw over here, I’m going to have to say ‘MY MOTHER.’” It seems that some scars last a lifetime, no matter how old they are.
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Summary:
In a humorous recounting of a mother-son moment during his deployment, the author shares a hilarious mishap while video chatting with her son, highlighting the unexpected ways parents can leave lasting impressions on their children. Through laughter and a touch of embarrassment, the story illustrates the unique challenges of long-distance parenting.