Missing my full house

I know that there have plenty of times in my life when I prayed for a little peace and quiet. When the kids were all little it seemed like I would never have a quite house, a clean house or one without some drama going on. Tonight Jeff and I sat home alone, ( I am not complaining about that, it was like having 2 date nights this week so that was a bonus) and talked about how weird it feels not having the kids around. Lee went to a church dance tonight and Lauren is on a road trip with her cousin (and I don't believe she has been homesick yet).

When I would hear older couples ( our age now ) talk about how hard it is to have your kids grow up and leave home, I thought to myself  "yeah right, that will never happen". But like most wisdom that comes from those who are older and wiser, it came true. When Amy (our oldest) left for college I actually thought my heart would break open. Life was different but we still had 3 kids at home and so we adjusted. Then Brad moved away and that was when Amy was already married, now with only 2 kids at home, we were all just walking around wondering what to do with ourselves. I felt like my heart would brake open again. I remember one Monday night, when we ask Lauren and Lee to come to Family Night, their response was "but there aren't enough of us to have Family Night". Perspective is a funny thing :).  When we just had Brad and Amy, we thought we had enough people for family activities, but after having 6 of us all together for so long, it is hard to have them leave.

Lauren leaves for college this January, you know I wonder why someone doesn't ask a mom at what age kids should go to college? I know what I would say "send them around the age of 12 to about 16 yrs old". Don't send them when they have grown up some and you guys are good friends. Oh well, it was just a suggestion. :)

So I will leave you with this funny story of a dad who probably thought this little boy of his would never grow up, much less go to bed. Good Night!

 

A FATHER SENT HIS BOY TO BED. FIVE MINUTES LATER, HE HEARD,  " D-A-A-A-D!"

"WHAT?" HE CALLED BACK.

"I'M THIRSTY. CAN YOU BRING A DRINK OF WATER?"

"NO. YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE. LIGHTS OUT."

FIVE MINUTES LATER, HE AGAIN HEARD, "D-A-A-A-D!"

"WHAT?"

"I'M THIRSTY. CAN I HAVE A DRINK OF WATER?"

"I TOLD YOU NO! IF YOU ASK AGAIN, I'LL HAVE TO SPANK YOU!"

FIVE MINUTES LATER, CAME "D-A-A-A-D!"

"WHAT?"

"WHEN YOU COME IN TO SPANK ME, CAN  YOU BRING A DRINK OF WATER?"

"When mothers talk about the depression of the empty nest, they're not mourning the passing of all those wet towels on the floor, or the music that numbs your teeth, or even the bottle of capless shampoo dribbling down the shower drain. They're upset because they've gone from supervisor of a child's life to a spectator. It's like being the vice president of the United States." ~ Erma Bombeck

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."  ~Elizabeth Stone