Another One Flies From The Nest

Well, it is official. Our home is now down from five to four. There is a bedroom in the house that has been picked over and only the unwanted items remain behind. A stray sock, an old school photograph, a muddy pair of tennis shoes, clothing that was never unpacked from the first move...and of course the candy wrappers, pieces of paper and such that often live tucked away in the nooks and crannies of a child's room.

It is a bittersweet time around here. On the one hand, we are excited to see where the future will take 'the newly independent one'. On the other, we hate to see them go. The house seems emptier already.

Jim and I have always known that our responsibility was to get them ready to launch into the world. We have watched one move out after a year of planning; another move on at the time of marriage. This one made the decision in about a week and had our heads spinning. Yet the emotions of watching each of them move into their first place has been similar...pride in their accomplishments, anxiety about their safety, and a little bit of regret that the time had come more quickly than we had thought.

Tonight I take a good look around the nearly empty room and see the things that need to be cleaned up, say a little prayer for the safety of all three of the children who have stretched their wings...and hug a little tighter the two who are closer to launch than I want to think about right now.