The End of an Era
JenEm, Jan 31, 2020
- Description:
- Elmwood by Sara Gleason
Beech Tree Elements by Sara Gleason
Empty Nest Kit by Sabrina's Creations
Curly Ribbon by Brittish Designs
Journaling Reads:
Dear Future Me,
As you sit writing this, you are wondering what the year will bring. Right now it is approaching the end of January 2020. Somehow January seems to have slipped away. It has been two weeks since you helped The College Kid pack up his belongings and depart once again for his dorm. You have done this a few times now, and thankfully the process has become a lot more streamlined. Waving goodbye and smiling when he leaves is still difficult for you, but you handle his departure a lot easier these days!
At the time of writing this, you are home alone again, savoring the silence, yet at the same time desperately missing the sound of his electric guitar. It has been almost two weeks since he came and hugged you and asked "What's for dinner?"
If all goes according to plan, this will be the College Kid's last semester. How is that even possible? This time in 2016 you were dealing with so much apprehension, so many what ifs and wondering just how you would get through the next four years. It is hard to believe that The College Kid will graduate in May. That is in 15 weeks time! Where did the time go?
Right now you are feeling many of the same emotions you were feeling in 2016. When you said goodbye to him this time round, however, things were different. He is a Senior. This is his last semester. He is another step closer to his journey into adulthood. Another step closer to becoming independent. Another step closer to beginning his future. Another step closer to permanently leaving the nest. You realize that the time you spend with him these next few months will be precious.
Just as you did when he left that first semester, you spend a lot of time in his room. He is not there, but you feel his presence, and it comforts you. You have been mulling the thought of what things will be like for you, as a mother, when The College Kid leaves the nest. The dynamics will change. They will be different. You will always be his mother, and he will always be your son. You have told him many times that this will still be his home, for as long as he wants it to be. It is important to you that no matter how old he is, he will always have a soft place to land when he needs it.
You have been thinking about parenthood, and entering a new phase in life. You are on the cusp of becoming an Empty Nester. The concept of time seems so strange for you right now. It seems like it was just the other day when he was born, yet here you are, the mother of a twenty one year old! As hard as you try, you cannot imagine what your life was like without him. It is almost as if the years before he was born did not exist.
He is a lot like you were at that age. You know all too well that feeling of being twenty one and wanting to spread your wings and discover the world. As you write this, you feel uncertain and a little afraid of what lies ahead. You also feel hope, and it is a strong feeling. The hope that you are feeling now will carry you through the months and years ahead. Let go. Everything is going to work out. This is his time. It is also your time. You are both going to find your wings and fly.
I hope that someday when you look back on this, you will smile and nod your head. Things will work out just the way they were meant to.
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- Category:
- Month of Challenges 8
- Uploaded By:
- JenEm
- Date:
- Jan 31, 2020
- View Count:
- 242
- Comment Count:
- 2
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