Friday, February 8, 2008

Conflicting emotions and writing time!

I’m thankful my daughters have grown into such responsible women. Really I am. But seriously, why do I feel so sad when I watch them doing what we raised them to do? Didn’t the Lord put parents in charge of teaching our children to stand on their own and be able to make good decisions?

My older daughter Alison flew down to visit for a few days. I love having her here, but seeing her reminds me that she’s not a little girl anymore. She’s a grown woman with a husband, a full-time professional job, a house with mortgage, and a couple of animals she and her husband so responsibly take care of. I’m going to force myself to focus on the moments she’s here rather than thinking ahead to when she’ll get back on that plane.

The “baby” of the family, Lauren, isn’t a baby anymore. Not only is she almost finished with college, she’s thinking about moving away if the right job comes along. She’s smart, witty, and very responsible with her job, which means she’ll be a great catch for any employer who is sharp enough to realize how much she has to offer.

I’m not sure if I’ll suffer from empty nest syndrome, but based on how I feel now, I just might. Hmm. Maybe I already am.

Over the past few years, I’ve had to work around everyone else’s schedule for my writing, and it’s worked out quite well. Now that I have time to write whenever the muse strikes, I wonder how I’ll do. Having only a few minutes here and there has made the time seem more precious. I need to change my thinking and value larger chunks of time as much as I do the stolen minutes.

3 comments:

Kathy Carmichael said...

I hope you don't mind, Debby, but:

You've been tagged!!!!

Please visit my blog to receive your instructions: http://kcdoodles.blogspot.com

Vicki said...

My daughter lives in AZ and although life becomes normally with her so many miles away, when she does come to visit or I go there, it's always hard to let go again.

It's your time to write when you want now. You've done a great job of being the mom to the girls as they grew up and that won't change, but it will be different.

Anonymous said...

You are already experiencing empty nest syndrome, my friend. HEYYYY Debby. Long time no talk to. Yes, you have the classic symptoms of peri-E.nest syndrome, but if you start having feelings of "what do I do now since I'm not needed any more," or "who am I," then you are in mid-E.N. syndrome and then when you get to the point where you jump into the air and say, "I'm free, I'm free. I can do any thing I want," then you are at post-E.N. syndrome.

Can't wait to read your book. Be good.

Jean Kincaid