by Sharon Dunn
While it is always good to see adult children get jobs, form relationships and contribute to society, there is a sadness to it too as a parent. They start to have their own lives and I see them less. Mind you, this is how it is supposed to be but I miss the times when we were a close knit family doing so many things together and just waking up in the same house to start the day.
This past year, I was given a gift. My son and daughter who were roommates had a basement apartment that flooded. They came to live with me. My youngest son had been living with me while he went to college and I asked him to stay when I got my cancer diagnosis. We were all together for a few months. The only loss was that my husband who died in 2014 was not with us.
There was a chance to laugh and to have some important talks and just to be together in a casual way. I think we worked through some things and I feel like I finally made the transition into relating to my children as adults. We were a little cramped in my condo. My daughter had to sleep on the couch. But it was all good. Now two of them have moved out and one left the state. I don't know that there will ever be another time when we are all together like that for so long.
Parenting is filled with so much joy and heartache. Though my time to be a strong influence in their lives is gone, I still worry about them (and then I pray) and have deep hope that they will find happiness. I rejoice in their successes and despair when they face setbacks. In other words even though they are adults, I will never stop being a mom. Being a parent at any stage has its share of joy and heartache.
The door is always open for them if they lose their job or have a medical crisis or whatever. I can still help them out in that way. How about you? What were some of your biggest surprises, heartaches or joys and a parent? Did you ever feel like me, that you were given a gift as a parent in some way?
Let me know in the comments and leave your email address. I will be giving away a couple of copies of any of my books of your choice.
I am so glad you got that gift this year! I know it had to be a special time in your life! My children and grands have been a precious gift!
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ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
My children are a blessing I couldn't make it with out them
ReplyDeleteI have three adult children and there is never a day that goes by that I don’t miss seeing them in the kitchen or their bedrooms. As a military family, we moved a lot to many different places, but the one thing that was always the same was our togetherness as a family. Even when my husband was deployed, we found ways to include him, like messages on a cassette tape. I love all of my children and grandchildren and I know that having an empty nest is part of the cycle of life, but I always look forward to our visits with them and seeing them with their own families. Life is so short…cherish the moments and make good memories was our family motto. Vickie W. watts.vickie@gmail.com
ReplyDeletewise words
Deletelauramotten@yahoo.com. thanks for the chance to win the book
ReplyDeleteMy life as a single parent would have been harder than it was without God and my family. There were so many days I wondered if I was going to make it. I was determined that my daughter wasn’t going to be one the single parent statics. I’m so proud of who’s become! She graduated high school, and has earned her Bachelor’s degree. She missed 4.0 by just a few points. (And, I had a terrible time getting her to do her home work in the earlier grades.
ReplyDeleteduellonlysis at aol dot com
Thanks for the opportunity!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. While I am not experiencing empty nest syndrome yet, I did receive a small taste of it recently. My eldest obtained his driver's license. Now he is driving himself to college. It is a bittersweet feeling for my husband and me watching him grow and become independent. cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI'm so so sorry to hear about your son. that makes the time you had together that much sweeter.
ReplyDeleteMy first one has just moved out - I get the mixed emotions for sure!
ReplyDeleteBeing a parent is hard. Being a single parent requires herculean strength and God's guidance, and parents never stop being parents. I cherish those moments with my grown children, too. God bless.
ReplyDeleteMary Gessner
PS I love your book. 🥰 Mary G.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mary.
DeleteI'm sure it was a very special gift having them all under one roof again for a while.
ReplyDeletedianah7272 at gmail dot com
In some way yes.
ReplyDeleteI can relate; although my kiddos are still under my roof, I see them less and less and I miss those days when we did everything together! Natalya
ReplyDeletekykla99ATgmailDOTcom
My children are all teenagers & still live at home, but so often they're all running different directions. I treasure the weekends no one has an event & we all get to go to church together. We'll be missing my middle girl this weekend, as she's on a camping trip with her AHG troop this weekend. (Email address is attached to my s account above)
ReplyDeleteMy children and grandchildren are my blessings. I thank God every day for giving me 2 great children who became great parents themselves.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a lovely gift, family time with your offspring. I'm enjoying extra time with my adult daughter. Currently she's more like a roommate, although the mother-daughter dynamic is there. It is amazing to see how beautifully she expresses her growth as a woman of God. Yes, I know the day will come when the man God has in store for her will arrive, but meanwhile, I'm enjoying the gift of her presence. Blessings to you and yours. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the opportunity!
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