the nest next door is emptying
the family gathered last night to share in the last supper… wonderful home made chicken pot pie, comfort food
Sarah is moving to college - her suppers now will consist of Ramen noodles and microwave popcorn and poptarts.
She has been packing, what to take? Everything? Leave some things behind to make sure it says 'your room' and dad doesn’t make it into his nekkid room?
Will her mom suffer from empty nest syndrome? Online advice for this includes getting a pet, redecorating your house, starting a hobby, traveling... GET REAL folks! After moving the 18-year-old college freshman out today, let's see what to do? How about taking the 15-year-old for her learners license and then taking the two upcoming sophomores to open house at high school, and getting the 17-year-old ready for college/commute starting tomorrow, and then mom starting back to college herself on Friday, and that is just this week!
Kids can't wait to get out of their parents' house, and of course we want them to go, experience life, get an education and a good job and all that, but then we also worry about them and sometimes wish they were little again and at home so we could keep them safe.
Starting college is like starting kindergarten, all the things you learned, like standing in line and taking turns, now learning to be independent and self sufficient and resourceful and confident. Of course, Robert Fulghum pretty much covers both kindergarten and college in his poem:
by Robert Fulghum
Most of what I really need
To know about how to live
And what to do and how to be
I learned in kindergarten.
Wisdom was not at the top
Of the graduate school mountain,
But there in the sandpile at Sunday school.
These are the things I learned:
Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life -
Learn some and think some
And draw and paint and sing and dance
And play and work everyday some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out into the world,
Watch out for traffic,
Hold hands and stick together.
Be aware of wonder.
Sarah's moving day, sad and happy all at once. I think I am getting empty nest syndrome already.
I didn't teach you all the things I should have as a granma, like sewing and knitting and granma stuff - so come back often, maybe we could even do some fun stuff like climbing mountains and hiking long trails!
Bye Sarah! Enjoy your new life. Be sweet and act smart and have fun!
Love, Granma Susan
