Late July. The heat of the summer.
The pools are in full swing and the popsicles and s’mores supplies are flying off of the shelves. Campgrounds and fishing holes are right in the middle of their busy season and neighborhoods are flooded with the laughter of children. Yet, each time we go into the store, the shelves are beginning to fill up with notebooks, lunchboxes, pencils, and dorm supplies.
For some, summer is just beginning. They are in the thick of it.
For some, their time of rest is slowly waning and they are preparing to head back into the classroom. For some, they are counting down the days until they get to send their kids back to school.
And, for some…all they can do is grasp at each dwindling day before they say “see ya later” to their child who is getting ready to move off to college. No one can prepare you for this day, let alone the months of thinking of leading up to the “day”. Whether your child is moving out 12 minutes away, or 1200 miles away doesn’t matter…they’re leaving the nest.
The nest that you have done your very best to be a place of protection, comfort, and love. How can we just let them leave? But guess what? As hard as it is to admit it, they were never meant to stay. This was the plan all along. Those once babies, weren’t designed to remain in comfort. They were designed to be loved, taught, encouraged and nudged. And, although it’s scary for a brief moment, they step out…and fly.
As a parent, our mind begins to fill with questions and doubts like, “have I done enough?”…”did I give them my very best while they were home?”…and the big one…”are they ready?”
Yes.
Yes-you did and Yes-they are. Although it may not feel like it now, rest assured you provided your child with all of the tools they need and I promise you they are thankful for you. They are going to be ok. You are going to be ok.
This new season of parenthood isn’t easy, but it sure is beautiful. I’m not going to lie…it stings. I have never cried so hard in my life. It’s a painful process for your kids to leave, but it’s also equally, if not more, beautiful. It’s a beautiful thing to watch your children leave the nest with everything you’ve given them and become who they are meant to be.
Just a mom here who has let two of her three little birds fly, encouraging you to hang on and continue to enjoy this ride–motherhood isn’t over just because they are leaving. Motherhood just looks a little different now.
So, enjoy the rest of your summer and soak all of these moments in with yours. Try not to dwell on the past, but focus on the great life you still have ahead of you and they have ahead of them!
Let them fly. You won’t regret it.
mrsmomdragon 