Gift of Parenting

​We are empty nesters. I used to think I'd hate this stage in our lives. I was wrong.

​Our three grown children have (mostly) flown the coop. Years ago, I'd fret about how fast they were growing up. But then my Grandma Onie gave me a simple yet priceless piece of advice. All she said was be sure to enjoy your children at every single stage.
 
That one short sentence shifted the way I viewed life with my growing children. I was able to (mostly) release the ache in my heart when they'd hit yet another milestone.
 
I still cried when I dropped them off at daycare, kindergarten, and first grade. I worried when each one transitioned from grade school to middle school to high school to college. Whether we were taking off the training wheels or handing car keys over to a student driver, I had to fight the panic.
 
But I've tried my best to follow Grandma's advice. It wasn't always easy, but she was right. Young or old, kids are a wonder. When they eventually reach the age where they are self-sufficient, we get a little time back for ourselves. I'm fascinated by the opportunities this new time freedom represents.
 
When I look back, I love that I can't even pick an age that was my favorite with our kids. Unless maybe it's today. Thank you, Grandma Onie, for helping me realize early in our parenting journey that every age is special, before the time slipped away.
 
Baby snuggles, toddler tantrums, grade-school ball games, teen trials and triumphs, first jobs and first heartbreaks, college graduations, and walking them down the aisle: every stage is a gift. I'm excited for the future, I cherish the past, but I vow to enjoy my ever-evolving role as a parent.

Always cheering you on,  Kim