This post by Whitney
Fleming Writes really hits so close to home for me as I’m approaching this new
chapter in my life. I try to keep these things in mind now...
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I talked to a neighbor recently who is
expecting her first grandchild soon. She excitedly told me about how her
daughter was feeling and the anticipation of being grandparents. She gushed
about her youngest, who recently graduated from college and is starting her new
life. She talked about visiting her son.
She spoke about vacations she planned with
friends and the fishing trip her husband just returned from and dinners with
her sister. She told me about caring for a sick relative and volunteering at
her church. She talked about books and movies and new restaurants.
Her life was full.
She asked about my girls and how they were
faring in high school. I waited for the "It all goes so fast" or
"Enjoy it while you can" commentary, but she didn't mention it.
Instead, she said something so profound:
"There's always something to look forward to when you have a family."
Bam. Mic drop.
"There's always something to look forward
to when you have a family."
I'm at the time in my life when it all seems
to be moving so fast. My girls are almost women, and their time under my roof
is limited.
Yet, I still see a future for us, and I'm
doing the work today to make sure they know I want to be in their life
tomorrow.
But preparing for my birds to leave the nest
means I must prepare myself as well.
So, I've been trying to find what fuels my
fire again, beyond caring for my children.
I'm working in a job that I love. I write. I
cook. I volunteer with my kids. I'm spending more time alone with my husband.
I see a life--a rich, beautiful, full
life--which grows in lockstep with my children, instead of centered around it.
There is always something to look forward to
when you have a family.
There is always something to look forward to
when you have friends.
There is always something to look forward to
if you look at it in the right way.
There will be graduations and weddings and
births. There will be vacations and celebrations and achievements. There will
be times they need me to hold them up and take them in, and there will be times
I need them to do the same.
There is still so much to look forward to,
even though our lives will look different.
My nest may soon be empty, but I choose to
believe that my life will still be full.
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Profound.
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