Year 2. Summer at Home 1.
Having my only child home for summer has been a deep peace.
I kind of forgot that I was strapped in to that emotional roller coaster. Until I read Traci's wonderful, wise "Be Kind to Yourself" post. We apparently had been on the (strangely-silent) chain-pulled first incline (the big one). I think we're now over the crest and the coaster is no longer fighting gravity, it's on it's own now. There are some built-in brakes much further down the track, but for now...
It's unstoppable, it's BALLISTIC! It WILL be wild.
My biggest takeaway from Year 1 is simply - deeply - missing my favorite person.
I might have been accused of co-dependent tendencies in my love life - that filial love is much much deeper.
But I got through it (thank you, Flock 
), you will, too. But you will miss your child, often and deeply.
), you will, too. But you will miss your child, often and deeply.You will feel sad that your child doesn't call or text often. You will miss not knowing what's going on in their lives, sharing the victories and helping with the obstacles. You'll catch up, but it's just not "real time" anymore.
I've been trying to write about the change in my relationship with my son, his attitude towards me. Why doesn't he see me overwhelmingly as a Trusted Advisor and Dear Friend? Why so much Taskmaster and Interferer? I think the answer is simple: "He needs more time". I think we'll get there. It is inevitable, right? Right?
I will leave you with this thought:
As we think to ourselves, "Why doesn't my darling child take a moment to say Hello, to drop a word, to let us know they love us?"
They do love us. But think of the people in our lives that we cherish, who helped shape us, who helped make us who we are. Who comforted us, who kept us sane.
When was the last time we stepped outside social media to call, email, or text them individually, to say Hello, to drop a word, to let them know we love them? We do love them, we're grateful for them, but we've been too distracted and too busy to do more than post on our social media wall.
I think the next time I'm deeply missing my kid, I'll take that opportunity to reach out to a dear friend I've ignored too long.
As for now, the front of our roller coaster train is tipping forward, some of you in the front are dangling over and have a great view of the long drop right in front of us all. WOW!
You're strapped in with a shoulder harness, you're safe. Hang on loosely, maybe raise your arms in the air, and get ready to let loose!
It's a helluva ride.