After 28 years of raising children, my husband and I now share an empty nest. There was one abortive attempt four years ago when our youngest became old enough to leave; instead, we wound up housing more kids than we actually gave birth to, but I will share that story another time. I was neither eager for nor dreading our son's leaving. In the best of circumstances it is a mixed blessing to see your children go. Yes, you can have the house to yourselves but who will mow the lawn, scoop the snow, and especially, move heavy things? Our son has been building up his spindly 17 inch biceps for years and can move almost anything we own by himself. We had to buy a 600 lb. hand truck to replace him. I didn't dread his leaving, much as we enjoyed his company, because I could tell he was ready, the time had come. So how has it changed our lives?
I can now put coconut back in all the recipes I have been leaving it out of because Trace didn't like it. I fixed long banished liver and onions for dinner one night. Dinner is now often just two things, soup and bread, salad and sandwich, peanut butter and jelly. We can no longer finish a gallon of milk before it spoils. Our grocery budget sank faster than the stock market. With the extra money I am buying a luxury item that was previously beyond our reach--Tide. After 33 years of using cheap detergent I can now buy Tide.
When Trace still lived at home I didn't take much notice of his coming and going as I did my regular household tasks, now when he comes to our door he is an honored guest. I stop what I am doing to sit and visit with him. One of the blessings of the empty nest is the perspective to realize what a privilege it has always been to share homes and lives with our children. For 28 years we enjoyed that blessing. Thank you Britten, Will and Tracy--my honored guests.
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