We have a family tradition of saying what we are thankful for on Thanksgiving. It is often funny, frequently tender and always a good thing to do.
My oldest came home after 5 weeks away at first year University for the long weekend. I loved having her close so much.
When it was my turn to say what I was thankful for I winked at her and said “when people leave they come back” and it is like it always was only maybe even sweeter.
I miss her so much even though I am so happy for her and so proud of her.
I feel like we are this unit – maybe at one point a little bit clinging to a raft after the shipwreck. Are we closer because of what we endured? Who knows. But we are very close, the three of us. Sometimes it feels like one heartbeat.
I am handling it one day at a time and completely cheerfully by the way because let’s remember she is not working at walmart and dating a cretin whose pants don’t cover his bum. It is all good. To honour the change that came too fast, I give myself treats of the company of people I like, I make new work/life goals so that when I see her she can be as proud of me as I am of her, and I look at it as the great and new thing that it is. I am open to the goodness of this change for all of us.
I try to imagine she is in her room down the hall- a longer hall than it used to be (2.5 hours by car). We feel each other’s support and love regardless. That is the way it is with family.
Oh but I miss this wonderful girl. It is so much easier, I think, when you don’t like your teenagers.
sniff….I love it! Add me into your more free’d up calendar would you?
I’m so glad you like her so much, heartstring-tugging as it is… xox