We just put our baby on a plane headed across a continent and over an ocean to another country, where she will live for the next 5 months. A wonderful opportunity for adventure and learning.
Just yesterday she looked like this.
Beds made; their down pillows gone...across the state, the country, and now the world. There are no more backpacks on the dining room table, tennis rackets or bags in the hallway, skis drying off on at the side door, swimming suits drying over the shower head, or hair pins left on the bathroom counter. I miss it and them, and their friends; even the noise of the late night movies in the family room beneath our bed.
We raise and love our children and hope and pray that we will prepare them to be kind, smart, capable adults when they leave the nest. And then that time comes, and they are ready and prepared but I am not ready; not ready at all.
And I don't like it; not one bit.
Just yesterday she looked like this.
Today, she is a beautiful young woman, going off into the world to make a place for herself (just wearing considerably less and more tastfully applied makeup).
We have sent daughters off into all corners of the world in the past and I'm sure it won't be the last time we drop a daughter at an airport, but it doesn't get any easier with practice. I am grateful she will be in a civilized safe country, and she is smart and cautious but I still worry. I am a mother.
Just last week the house was full of laughter and noise. Today the house is silent.
This week their rooms look like this.
We raise and love our children and hope and pray that we will prepare them to be kind, smart, capable adults when they leave the nest. And then that time comes, and they are ready and prepared but I am not ready; not ready at all.
And I don't like it; not one bit.
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I agree with you 100%. I have one daughter who left home when she went to college. When she relocated back to the Bay Area, she lived at home for six months and it was HEAVEN. I miss having my daughter at home.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting and leaving a comment. We lived in SF in the city many years. You live in such beautiful country! One of my favorite places to visit.
ReplyDeleteOh, I am sorry. I sympathize with you. It took us 12 1/2 yrs to have our little Fidget. And though she is only 7, it is going too fast. I don't look forward to the days we put her on planes and let her go. Lucky for us, right now she still says she's going to live with us forever.
ReplyDeleteYou must be so proud of your daughter. She's beautiful and her inner self radiates outward. It's hard saying good bye, isn't it? My heart goes out to you.
ReplyDeleteJody
My eldest will be heading off to university later this year and your post has reminded me that I need to enjoy every last detail of her being here...both good and not so good.
ReplyDeleteHi Bonnie- thanks for your comment on my blog. What lovely daughters you have [I only have 2!] mine are both in London, and that seems far away, but at least it is in the same country!
ReplyDeleteI visited Vermont, and Washington DC on our Silver Wedding Anniversary trip-of-a-lifetime, but I've not really travelled much in the US.
Your girls sound like good, loving children, [like mine] and however much we miss them, we know we can entrust them into God's hands - they are in our thoughts and prayers everyday though, aren't they.
Now following your blog, as I have enjoyed reading your earlier posts
God bless you all, richly, in this New Year xx
I just stumbled across your beautiful blog...I'm so glad I did. I love your heartfelt post. I was widowed recently and have two teens at home now, and often think of what it will be like when my nest is empty. I cherish every day I have with them.
ReplyDeleteYou should be so proud! congrats mommy! Mine eldest is 12 and youngest is 6 and I dread the day they will leave. I know it's for their best, but when the day comes I will be so devasted not to see them daily, sending hugs!
ReplyDeleteRemember two of us aren't so far away. Thanks for dinner last night and for all you do. You've done a great job preparing us for the world (well for what I've seen of it so far :) ) Love you Mom!
ReplyDeleteThis post made me cry. If you want, I will take next semester off and intern with you. I feel that like would be fantastic! Haha. Love you and miss you mom.
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ReplyDeleteThanks girls. You could both come home and intern with me but guess what???? That's what you have been doing your whole lives (You just didn't know it). ;)Love you.
ReplyDeleteThat is so sweet that your daughters commented:)
ReplyDeleteAs a veteran empty-nester, I know all too well how you feel. When we took our second daughter to school in Utah, she made sure to remind me that she would be home at the end of the semester, but then she got married at the end of the semester and never did make it back home! I kid her about that all the time:)
Seriously! I feel your pain. Just dropped off my Brookie in China, where she was headed off to Thailand, India and Africa till mid May. I love that they grow up and experience life, but wish that didnt mean an empty nest for us! I still have one at home so yey for that :)
ReplyDeleteI just saw this and loved it!!! Thanks for the tribute to me and I will remember everything you taught me! Love and miss you from a continent away!
ReplyDeleteHi! I googled mascara and that picture of your daughter came up. May I borrow that for my blog? I needed a child with mascara in her face and your picture fit perfectly. I'll leave the link for you, so you'll see I'm not using it for anything fishy :) She's really adorable btw.
ReplyDeletehttp://aneik.blogg.no/
- Ane from Norway