Leftbehind孩子们总要长大，离开家，独自闯荡世界。渐行渐远的身影背后留下的是父母的思念和牵挂。ByPamelaPerryBlaine熙凡选注They'regonenow.Istoodinthedrivewayandwatchedmygrownchildrendriveoffintothedistance.IlookeddowntheroaduntilIcouldnolongerseetheirvehicles."Theylivewaytoofarawayfromme",Isaidtomyself."Whendidtheygrowupandbecomeparentsofsmallchildren?Shouldn'tthatbeme?"Islippedbackinsidethehouseandjustwalkedthroughtheroomsfornoreasoninparticular.Iwasjustmissingthemalreadyandlookingforsignsoftheirhavingbeenhere.Therewerepillowsonthefloorwheretheyhadbeentossedfromthecouchthathadbeenusedforabedandafewstuffedanimalslyingaroundwherethechildrenhadbeenplaying.Ismiledatthelittlefingerprintsonmymirror.Ididn'twipethemoff.IthoughtbacktothetimewhenItriedsohardtokeepthefingerprintsoffthemirrorsanddoorswhenmychildrenweresmall.Now,IwantedthetinyfingerprintstostaysothatIcouldseethemtherejustalittlelonger.Oh,IknewIwouldeventuallycleantheglassdoorsandthemirrorbutfornow,theyremainedaworkofart,acollageoftinyfingerprintsformyviewing.AsIwalkedaroundthehouse,Ipickedupafewitemsonthefloorandstraightenedachair.IdecidedtosortthroughthetoyboxandIfoundaflyingdinosaur,askeleton,andaFrankensteinthathadmysteriouslytakenupresidenceinmyboxoftoys.ItalwaysamazesmehowBen,thefive-year-oldconnoisseuroftoys,rememberstheitemsinthetoyboxandknowswhomtheybelongtoandifanythingismissing.Iwalkedintothekitchenandthereonthebackofthesinkwasabottlebrushthathadbeenleftbehind."Ah,evenTessaleftsomethingbehind,"Iannounced.Well,Isupposeshehadhelpsincesheisjustfourmonthsold."Iwonderwhatelsehasbeenleftbehind,"Isaidoutloudtonooneinparticular.Myhusbandheardmeandjoinedthesearchforthingsleftbehind.Itseemslikeeverytimeourfamilygetstogethersomethingisleftbehind.WhenIcallmychildrentotellthemwhattheyhaveleftbehindIamusuallytold,"Oh,justbringitwhenyoucome.","KeepitformeuntilIcomebackthenexttime",or"Hey,Ireallyneedthat,wouldyoumindmailingittome?""Ohlook!Here'sTegan'stooth,"IsaidtomyhusbandasIpickedupaziplockbagwithhernameengravedonit.Teganhadaloosetoothandhadmanagedt