When I fantasized about life with kids in their 20s, I imagined my days would move along through the summer months at pretty much the same pace as the school year. After all, my family would no longer be ruled by the school …
Empty Nest Is Not What I Expected
I've been trying to schedule lunch with a couple of my friends who are also empty nesters. You'd think it would be a breeze. It's not. We're all insanely busy. What in the world is that about? I thought as I …
My Quiet House
My daughter is settled in Philly, looking for a job, ready to start grad school. My older son is couch-surfing in his college town, the suburban full of furniture and all his stuff, meeting with the classroom teacher he'll …
A Much Harder Leave-Taking
Five years ago this month, we left our daughter at college in a neighboring state where she didn't know a soul, eight hours from home and without a car. And I didn't bat an eye. I knew it was time for her to venture out on …
Embracing the Chaos
Come August, we'll move our daughter to Philadelphia to pursue her master's degree. Come next May, our son will graduate from college and be on to either a job or more schooling. And while our "baby" will be around some for a …
The TP Game
We love sports at our house. And I am a sucker for tradition. This weekend we got to experience both at the famous TP game at John Brown University. A little history: this has been a tradition at JBU for 33 years. It happens …
10 Things That Excite Me about my Empty Nest
Today we take our youngest child to college. We move him in and drive home to an empty house. While I will miss having kids around on a daily basis, there are things that excite me about the Empty Nest stage of life. Here are …
The Chairs in My Life
Years ago, when we moved from our tiny starter home into our big, newly constructed home, my husband gave me a wonderful gift--my own chair. I picked out a comfy seat with wide arms and a matching ottoman. It sat in our …
Happy Mother’s Day
Ready To Have My Brain Back
One thing I've learned as my children have gone off to college: with each one that leaves home, I get a piece of my brain back. It's true. Suddenly all the day-to-day details that I keep in my head are gone, for I don't see …