I know we are all supposed to be offering odes to our college-bound children. I know, as we see the “time to move out!” pile grow taller, we are supposed to fully lean into our feelings of sadness and despair and question how, exactly, we will move on with an empty bed in our homes. It’s just that I am having other, more happy feelings, as well.
We are not the only parents who will mark this Fall of 2022 as the “do-over” in launching a child from the nest. Our story is not unique as we are parents to one of the thousands of teenagers suddenly cut off from best friends, favorite teachers, and familiar school halls.
The approach of vacation, in our home, comes with a bag of mixed emotions. There is excitement, as we know we will be going somewhere soon. There is trepidation, as we my family knows that as go-time approaches, there will be a slow rise of “supercritical things to do around the house.”
If you’re wondering about the joy of aging, look no further. In today’s entry, I’ll be discussing the onset of the "holy shite, is lighting speed how it happens??" aging process.
I don’t mean to brag, but I did finally learn to cook. When I first moved in with my instant family, I would look at whichever box I pulled out of the pantry and think, “Okay, serving size, 4oz…so…what, make four of those?”
This is why I cringe when people look at me with a suspicious eye roll when they hear I am a stepmom. Only a stepmom. It must be so easy to only be a stepmom. Oh yes. Bonbons and fancy wines. What I want to say is, “You think you have emotional fallout? Try life as a stepmom. So easy.”
Between Zack getting his driver’s license, a lifeguard certification, a real summer job.... WHY IS THIS CHILD TESTING ME??
It’s an interesting view, as a child, to witness the decline of one parent and the subsequent rise of the other as a need for caretaking develops.
Men? Men really just want to feel regular fulfillment in each of only four quadrants. Tap into about half of those quadrants each day and you will be giving yours everything he needs to maintain a sense of running bliss that comes with generalized happiness and contentment.
A year ago at this time, we hadn’t yet found out that our child had essentially dropped out of her life. Today, we are preparing to send her out of the nest again and we are hitting all emotions.
