I am finally sitting down after a month filled with graduation ceremonies (both College and High School), proms, award nights, senior celebrations, music recitals, theater performances, college orientation for one and a big move to DC to start a new job for another. It has been a whirlwind of celebrations, tears, trips down memory lane, more tears, countless hugs and infinite photo opportunities. Needless to say I am exhausted and emotional. Two in one year! Really? There is just too much “new”. Oh, and did I mention that I don’t do “change” so well?

Here’s the thing. Simply put, we like our kids and love spending time with them. And surprisingly or not, they seem to like spending time with us! Being a family unit nourishes me, fills my heart and soul. Like a breakfast of champions you might say. So I am holding on tight; counting down until the new normal sets in. I never had this as a child. My mom died when I was 15 and my sister left home soon after. Any free time my dad had was spent taking care of my mom. So as my kids have gotten older our time together as become more precious.

You see, we’re the “live in one room” kind of family. We crawl onto one bed to watch Games of Thrones or the Amazing Race when there are plenty of couches and chairs for each to have their own. We’re loud, talk over each other, but make each other laugh. We tease and argue, comfort and console, and can be both diplomatic and hardcore. Music is a big part of our family life and we spend time seeing concerts and shows or just blasting tunes on road trips or off my husband’s vinyl. We fight, get emotional and say things we don’t mean but forgive and move on. (I’m working on that!) We’re not perfect, far from it. But our imperfections make us perfect…for me.

I know it’s time for me to let go of both of them. They’re ready. Me? Not so much. You see when they go, I know I am going to lose a part of them. Even harder, a part of us. But I guess that’s truly the push and pull of parenting; the sadness that comes with watching your child drive away…literally; mixed with the pride in knowing that they are traveling on their own. So here’s to new beginnings…. for all of us.

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