I blog at
www.boomerbabesrock.com every Monday. I rarely post my blogs here, but I thougth I would today so here you go:
Emptying the Well Within
When the kids visit - then leave - I cry. It happened again yesterday. Our youngest was home for a week. We gathered with family and friends, watched movies, and shared lunches and dinners. He showed me his photos and videos on his laptop, and let me listen to his friend’s music on his computer. He had his buddies here for a cookout. They laughed and carried on sharing their own college stories. He had lunch with his sister and Pop-Pop, since he hadn’t been around for Pop-Pop’s birthday. He opened his heart and gave me a peek into his college life. He’s happy. He’s learning awesome stuff about filmmaking, he’s growing, and he’s having the time of his life. He’s here – and he’s gone.
As he leaves for the airport with Ross, I suck it up and in, hug him tightly, tears welling, squeak out a few words, bravely wave, make sure they’re out of sight, enter the house…and empty the well within.
I’m blessed. The only time I really cry these days is when my kids leave. The tears roll for the times we’ve had, their futures, their safety, my love for them, and then everything else enters in. Tears roll for all the injustice in the world, for my friends who have lost brothers or mothers, friends who are caring for loved ones with cancer, or trying to raise teens that will grow in to respectful young adults, but feel they are running in to a brick wall. The tears stream endlessly. I sob. My dog looks and cocks her head at me as if to say, “What’s wrong?” I empty the well with crumbled tissues surrounding me.
Trust me; I’m happy for the kids. I’m tickled at their independence. I’ve raised them to be independent, and I’ve known they belong to Him first. I’ve prayed for their independence, but now that it’s here, it hurts, especially when they leave.
Do you cry when your kids leave? Does it ever stop?
The tears are gone. My face is dry.
I celebrate because he’s safely in his college nest and because Ross and I are in our empty nest.
Life is as it should be and I’m grateful again.