An ending and a new beginning. Next Monday, our son and his family will be moving into their own home. They surprised us – happily – when they moved in with us last July. None of us expected things to turn out this way, but step by step, they started the next phase of their lives. Our son faced the major transition of retiring from the military and figuring out what to do as a civilian. That process went from normal job interviews to deciding he wanted to own his own business to figuring out what business to getting it underway. He started a screen repair franchise which kept him busy sooner than expected.
It will be a new start for my husband and me, too, as our house won’t have girls running around or Caroline climbing on our laps. Obviously, cooking for six is very different than for two. I’ve never consistently cooked this much, but my husband has loved all of the new recipes we’ve tried that I wasn’t inspired to cook for just the two of us. The house will be less cluttered, more clean. But I’ve enjoyed all of it. Having our son and family back in our lives and getting to know our grandchildren has been a blessing.
I’ll miss Lauren practicing her flute every night and hearing how quickly she is improving. And Caroline? How I’ll miss her racing across the room to hug me when I’ve been gone, or giving me a kiss goodbye in the morning before school and when she comes home. Who will I read books to when she’s no longer here?
Fortunately, they will live in our town which saves me from a deeper loss. I will cherish this time together. Yes, it’s an ending for my husband and me, but also a new beginning for all of us.
by Kathleen Vestal Logan, MS, MA April 14, 2017