Fall is here, time to get back to routine after the free-for-all days of summer. To get back into blogging, I’m taking up the 31 Days challenge to write every day in October on one topic.
I’ve been busy the past few weeks, with kids and company coming and going, and I realized that even though I am getting closer to having an “empty nest” as children graduate from high school and move on to college and life on their own, my nest is rarely empty. It’s more like a half-full nest.
There are kids coming home for events like birthdays and holidays, or just to make cookies or pick apples for canning applesauce. There are projects that need a mom’s help, like buying and assembling a new bed from IKEA, and there are days that someone phones in for some home time and encouragement. Since our home often has free bed space, there’s also been a steady stream of people who need a place to stay coming through and keeping the nest from getting too quiet or dusty.
I have been approaching this season of life warily, afraid that I might be too lonely, certain that I would need to find something big and meaningful to fill my life when my mothering career winds down. Now that I can see this new stage of life just up ahead, I’m thinking maybe I’m not entering retirement just yet.
There still seems to be some mothering to do.
Day 1: Signs of Life
Day 2: A Gift
Day 3: Game Day
Day 4: I Sit and Think
Day 5: You Can Always Come Home
Day 6: Will I Ever Get My Laundry Done?
Day 7: Mother Worry
Day 8: Beck and Call
Day 9: Two Terrible Words
Day 10: The-Not-So Organized Mom
Day 11: Class Time
Day 12: The Come and Go Room
Day 13: Write That Stuff!
Day 14: Be The Mom
Day 15: Let’s Have Coffee
Day 16: Hold On!
Day 17: Gathering In
Day 18: Sunday Night at DIA
Day 19: Cooking for a Crowd
Day 20: The New Me
Day 21: Career Mom
Day 22: Low Honest
Day 23: Is Your Name Frank?
Day 24: Friday Night In
Day 25: Full Closets
Day 26: On the Same Page
Day 27: Four Little Notes
Day 28: The Birthday Juggle
Day 29: Taking a Step Back
Day 30: The Costume Boxes
Day 31: Yippee I made it! Nest Half Full Again
I’m visiting from the #write31days link up–it seems like most of the posts in the ‘Family’ category are about homeschooling and things like that–it’s good to see a fellow half-empty nester :). Mothering never ends, but it definitely changes as our kiddos grow up and venture out on their own. Knowing when to step back and when to step in has been the hardest part of this transition for me!
Thanks Anita! I agree–it’s new territory when your kids are growing into adulthood and taking on new responsibility for themselves. It’s hard to trust that they’ll take good care of themselves! But I love the new relationship I have with them 🙂
With your lovely location and loving self, you will always have a line out the door! Let me know when there’s a break in the action, and I’ll be happy to fill up some empty space and keep you company!
Thanks Suz! Come on over–there’s always room for you!
Are you kidding me? Your mothering will never end. Kids outside of our home doesn’t change their need for an engaged, wise, available, fun and gracious Mom who can be a listening ear, a voice of encouragement, a big portion of unconditional love. No, you a Mom then, you a Mom forever.
They need you, I need you–you are needed and loved.
Steve