Home Alone

I left Josh home alone today for the first time.  I had to go Visiting Teaching and really didn't want to take him with me.  He also needed to get his 'jobs' done so that we could go on a picnic with his cousins at noon.  I wrote down my cell number and had him practice dialing it.  He couldn't do it.  By the time he had put in 4-5 numbers, the phone would start beeping because he had taken too long.  After 4 tries, I finally figured out that I could just call my number and then show him how to push redial.  So much easier.  I gave him the whole spiel about not answering the door or the phone.  I told him to let Gideon in when I left and then showed him a math page and writing page that he needed to get done while I was gone.  He was super excited and told me "I can do it because I'm a big boy now, huh mom."  Riiighhttt.  The doorbell rang and I left as Josh locked the door behind me.
My partner wasn't able to get a hold of all our assignments and we ended up only having to go to one house instead of three.  Exactly 8 min after I left, my phone starts ringing.  "Mom, I put Gideon outside because he almost threw up on the carpet, so I let him out."
"Okay.  That was a good idea.  I'll see you in a little while okay?"
"Okay.  Bye, love you." Josh hangs up.  I chuckle and think, oh that was cute.  I was relieved to know that he could in fact call me if there was a problem but I felt certain that he would be able to settle down and that I probably wouldn't hear from him again.  I was wrong.  Just as I begin the lesson 10 mins later, my phone starts ringing again.  Josh.  "Mom, I finished my math paper!  Isn't that really fast?!"
"Good job bud.  That's great."
"I just hurried and did all the problems so fast and now I'm finished."
"Good job.  Now get your writing done and I'll see you in a little bit."
"K.  Bye, love you."
I apologize for the interruptions and try to finish my lesson only to have my phone start ringing again less than 2 min later.  Josh.
"Mom, when I hung up the phone it said 1 missed call.  But I didn't hear any missed call."
"It's okay bud.  Don't worry about it."
"Because it just said 1 missed call."
"Yeah, it's okay.  I'll see you in a little bit okay?"
"Okay.  Ummm Mom?  Is Lyndsey there?"
I was babysitting Lyndsey again and had taken her with me.  "Yep, she is."
"Can I, like, talk to her for a little bit?"
"Not right now bud.  I'll be home in just a little bit and you can talk to her then, okay?"
"Okay.  Bye love you."
Embarrassed, I apologized again and quickly finished my lesson.  Luckily we were able to make it home before he called again.  When we pulled up into the driveway, Josh opened the door and came out.  How he knew I was home when he was suppose to be finishing his homework in the kitchen, I don't know.  He was so proud of himself and I lavished on the praises thinking of all the things I can do now that he is able to be home alone.  Unfortunately, it took him another hour to write 2 sentences and when I asked him what the problem was he said "It's because you and Lyndsey came home and distracted me.  So now I can't work very hard."  Great.  Maybe I do need to leave him home more often....