I climbed into an Uber last week in Fort Lauderdale on my way to the airport, ready to head for home, a stiff breeze pounding the palm trees, the sun trying to decide whether or not to come out from behind the clouds.
This is so poignant, Shawn; it really touched me. Our kids are 19 and 22, so I get it. I think your phone call from Lucy demonstrated that home, more than anything, is a who, rather than a physical place, you know. You and Maile will always be Lucy's home, where her heart and soul was born and grown and will continue to find comfort and support and love, no matter what her age. Our kids know that that safe place - home- is always here for them. You and Maile have created that safe space for your kids and they will continue to come back to it in different ways as the years pass and they face various challenges - sometimes challenges as simple as needing a password. Lol. That said, I know it's not quite the same as having them physically under your roof!).
We're in this together, Michelle! (Digitally . . . at a distance . . . ) But seriously, thanks for your encouragement. I know you and Brad are right there, too.
I love reading these processes as you go through them. So much changes when your kids are 18-25ish, and I just feel like we weren’t warned! It’s very good and extremely hard.
My stepson is 35(WTH?!), and then 26, 24, 23, and 19. We had three get married in a span of 6 months and were grandparents a year later, and currently both daughters are expecting their firstborns, 3 weeks apart. These kids have no mercy!
Ughhhhh shawn... tears!!! Booooooo (kidding) but also was NOT PREPARED. The 7 year old will turn 8 this month and in April the 5 year old will turn 6 and for me that jump seems seismic. I’ll just savor my 7 and 5 yr old a little bit more today.
Ugh, I felt all of this so viscerally (even though my oldest is only five...soooo what does that say about me? I'm not sure). I loved the part where you write about answering your daughter's call even though it was 11 pm. That's just a really big gift to college-age kids, I think...one that I didn't receive much but hope to pass onto my kids—the freedom to be that age, have fun, call at obnoxious hours about silly things and still know you're loved at the end of the day. Thanks for sharing this.
This brought tears. Loved it all. Our daughters are in their early 40s and one "just" 37 but turning 38 in days, and planning a big birthday party for her sweet daughter just turning 1. The drs called it a "geriatric birth" at 37, we called it wonderful, getting our first granddaughter after five lively and wonderful grandsons. As our children got older and flew the coop I always had to remind myself: this is what we raised them for. Thanks for your stories!
I am in that same stage of life, Melodie. Grandchildren are such special gifts, too, aren't they? I have five grandsons and now two granddaughters! The love just keeps expanding. And Shawn, thank you for the beautiful moments and the memories they bring.
Thank you for sharing about what this looks like for you to experience and process. We have a daughter who will be a senior next year and I’m already excited for her and VERY emotional about what comes next for her.
Tears in my eyes. I’m just on the precipice of all of this. My oldest is a senior. In some ways, she’s already left. My second is a junior so big changes are ahead.
I love this slice of life. Jamaica is maybe our favorite shared place, and we live in NYC, which sucked me in. But that sleepy password moment hit me. Life is strange indeed.
I have a sophomore in college & a sophomore in high school. We’ve been homeschooling for 8 years, so Lily leaving for college last year made quite the change in our day to day household normality.
It still doesn’t feel “right,” but I do cherish the times she’s home.
This is so poignant, Shawn; it really touched me. Our kids are 19 and 22, so I get it. I think your phone call from Lucy demonstrated that home, more than anything, is a who, rather than a physical place, you know. You and Maile will always be Lucy's home, where her heart and soul was born and grown and will continue to find comfort and support and love, no matter what her age. Our kids know that that safe place - home- is always here for them. You and Maile have created that safe space for your kids and they will continue to come back to it in different ways as the years pass and they face various challenges - sometimes challenges as simple as needing a password. Lol. That said, I know it's not quite the same as having them physically under your roof!).
We're in this together, Michelle! (Digitally . . . at a distance . . . ) But seriously, thanks for your encouragement. I know you and Brad are right there, too.
I love reading these processes as you go through them. So much changes when your kids are 18-25ish, and I just feel like we weren’t warned! It’s very good and extremely hard.
We were not warned! How old are your kids, Tresta?
My stepson is 35(WTH?!), and then 26, 24, 23, and 19. We had three get married in a span of 6 months and were grandparents a year later, and currently both daughters are expecting their firstborns, 3 weeks apart. These kids have no mercy!
Wait, wut?!? That's amazing! Congrats!!!
Ughhhhh shawn... tears!!! Booooooo (kidding) but also was NOT PREPARED. The 7 year old will turn 8 this month and in April the 5 year old will turn 6 and for me that jump seems seismic. I’ll just savor my 7 and 5 yr old a little bit more today.
You’ve got like ten years, which will pass in about a day 🙂
Ugh, I felt all of this so viscerally (even though my oldest is only five...soooo what does that say about me? I'm not sure). I loved the part where you write about answering your daughter's call even though it was 11 pm. That's just a really big gift to college-age kids, I think...one that I didn't receive much but hope to pass onto my kids—the freedom to be that age, have fun, call at obnoxious hours about silly things and still know you're loved at the end of the day. Thanks for sharing this.
Well, thanks for pointing that out. It's a good reminder. I could have easily strayed into grumpy dad mode, but fortunately I didn't :)
This brought tears. Loved it all. Our daughters are in their early 40s and one "just" 37 but turning 38 in days, and planning a big birthday party for her sweet daughter just turning 1. The drs called it a "geriatric birth" at 37, we called it wonderful, getting our first granddaughter after five lively and wonderful grandsons. As our children got older and flew the coop I always had to remind myself: this is what we raised them for. Thanks for your stories!
I am in that same stage of life, Melodie. Grandchildren are such special gifts, too, aren't they? I have five grandsons and now two granddaughters! The love just keeps expanding. And Shawn, thank you for the beautiful moments and the memories they bring.
Wonderful news! And yes, great reminder: this is what we raised them for.
Currently sharing a house with a friend from Trinidad and this winter weather is a misery for her, God bless her. And I’m in Mississippi.
Thank you for sharing about what this looks like for you to experience and process. We have a daughter who will be a senior next year and I’m already excited for her and VERY emotional about what comes next for her.
Kimi, it really is such an incredibly exciting time. Lots of learning for both parent and young person :)
Tears in my eyes. I’m just on the precipice of all of this. My oldest is a senior. In some ways, she’s already left. My second is a junior so big changes are ahead.
It's an incredible journey!
I love this slice of life. Jamaica is maybe our favorite shared place, and we live in NYC, which sucked me in. But that sleepy password moment hit me. Life is strange indeed.
Thanks, Clay.
Well that made me cry!
I have a sophomore in college & a sophomore in high school. We’ve been homeschooling for 8 years, so Lily leaving for college last year made quite the change in our day to day household normality.
It still doesn’t feel “right,” but I do cherish the times she’s home.