The Nest...

How many of us hear people say, "I can't wait until they are out of the house"? (meaning the children)

During  trying times (the teen years), that is any parents feelings and response to a rough patch.  Honestly, who has kids just to hurry up and blow through these precious fleeting moments.  Moments, because when you look at it, did you "Blink" and now those babies are either flown from the "Nest" or nearing the edge.

You ask yourself, did I do everything I could? Love enough? Understand enough?  Listen?  Did I not just tell them, but did I demonstrate how much I love them.  When the world shows it's colors, did I give them the strength to endure.  But, most of all did I teach them that it is okay to be "Them"?  Unaltered  just themselves. 


Watching and talking with my friend, I could feel her heart full of emotion.  Tears welling up, and feeling those feelings of excitement and "I am not ready for this to be over".  We know it isn't over in the sense of being a parent.  The general void of the familiar will be no more.  The house we are accustom too, filled with our children's friends. Rooms that held our sleeping cherubs turned into offices or craft rooms.  Hearing them say "there is nothing to eat",  "where are my shoes", "can I do it later".  And my favorite;  "love you too"...

Call me a weirdo, but I was and am in no hurry for them to "Get a Life"...maybe I am ready because when I "Got a life",  those fledglings became my life.  So, the cycle begins...family.  It grows, evolves and is...


So, "Blink" if you must.  Remember to listen more than you talk, forgive and encourage.  Most of all HUG your kids, and HUG your kids friends cause many of them haven't had one in a very long time...


If you are one of the above mentioned parents that measures your success as a parent in knowing that your child, can call no matter what.  Be who they were designed to be.  Happy and treat others the way they want to be treated?  Then job well done...smile cause it happened, not that it is over...