New Life and an Empty Nest

Today is my son's 22nd birthday. Wow where has the time gone. It just seems like yesterday that he was running around from morning till night playing hockey, basketball and whatever else he could with his friends down the street.

But it got me thinking today about how his life has changed so much in the last year and how much it is going to change. A little over a year ago, we moved Ryan into his apartment a week before classes started at Full Sail Univeristy in Orlando. I thought that was the hardest thing I ever had to do. I wanted him to be independent, but I wanted him to need me too. Now he has graduated from college and is living back at home. I have to keep telling myself that it is just temporary. When he finds a job it will probably be out of state.

I have been reading the new Chicken Soup for the Soul book about Empty Nesters. I am not quite there, but will be soon. I think Empty Nest has such a lonely sound to it. I prefer to call it a "nest with more room". I guess as mothers we all wonder whether we will be able to handle our children moving away. But it is just a new phase in our lives that we adjust to and hopefully, learn to enjoy. We raise our children to be independent, but then want to turn the clock back and start over. Now I know how my Mom felt when I moved away.

Well as Ryan celebrates another birthday today and Allison will be 20 after Christmas I guess I better start getting used to the idea of a "nest with more room". I wonder if I can get away with making plans to use his room for me. I guess I am not ready to make any changes anyway.

Do you think they will still need their "old" Mom? Please God be with Ryan and Allison as they spread their wings to fly just as you intended. And I pray that they take You with them! And, maybe, a part of me too?