I Overheard My Son Say, “Hi, Mom! I’m Coming to See You Tomorrow Instead of School”— So I Secretly Followed Him
I had just gotten back from a work trip and was finally enjoying a quiet day at home—until my 10-year-old son came in, barely looked at me, and slipped off to his room. It stung. But what hit harder was what I heard next: his cheerful voice on the phone saying, “Hi, Mom! I’ll visit you tomorrow instead of going to school!” My heart stopped. I didn’t say a word. I needed to know the truth. So the next morning, after I sent him off for “school,” I followed him. He passed the school, turned down a strange street, and stopped in front of a house I’d never seen before…
After a week away on a work trip, I was finally back home and soaking in the comfort of routine. I spent the day catching up on laundry and wiping down kitchen counters while humming to myself. Everything felt just a little more peaceful now that I was home.
Then my 10-year-old son, Leo, walked in after school.
No hug. No excitement. Just a distant, “Hey,” before he disappeared into his room.
