When we came to Australia I had a fear for Duncan. My fear was simple, that he would forget the family that he has back in the US, that because he was so young, out of sight out of mind would play a huge part. I am not sure what age that plays a huge role for a child’s mind or when that begins happening but today, for the very first time in our four months of being here in Australia, those fears were put at ease.

Since Duncan’s birthday had just passed and then we went out on the road for about two days, I figured it was about time that we webcam with my mom and family in the US. I hadn’t actually spoken (besides IMing and Facebooking) with them in about a month, which reminds me, we’ve got to not go that far in between web cams and I need to do it with my older sister and nephew and make sure that my younger sister and nephew are there so I can see them! Anyway, I told him we were going to talk to Gaga today and he said, “Gaga!?” Very excited. That made me happy but also wonder, was he just repeating my words?

When we got onto the webcam and my mom popped up, his face light up like Christmas and he yelled GAGA! Inside, I gave a huge sigh of relief because no, he had not forgotten. He hammed it up, he smiled at the songs that my brother and mom sang to him and he talked back to them. He said a bunch of words that they hadn’t been able to hear and even showed things and yes, shot them with his piece of trash that was turned into a gun in his imagination.

So, had he forgotten about them? No, not in a million years. He was talking to them on the webcam like he had not even left that house, like he has still been there the whole time. He blew them kisses when they were going to go and even said night night because they were going to bed (it was noon here and 10pm there).

I am glad my fears were unfounded and that even though they are out of sight they are not out of mind. I know they’re never out of my mind.