Right up at the top of a list of life's adventures is having and raising kids. Nothing can be more aggravating, challenging and rewarding. From the very beginning, a parent harbors the best hopes and dreams for the little ones, and works hard at making sure that those yutes develop a good moral compass, first of all, but also a strong work ethic, a respect and understanding of their duties as a citizen, and a healthy love/hate relationship with authority. You children of the sixties will know what I mean by that.
Eventually, all that sweat and worry pays off, one hopes.
Today, our oldest moved out to live in her sorority house at college. It's only 50 minutes away, but the continuity between the day we brought her home from the hospital and today is broken, in a good way, and she will now get to handle all the normal adult hassles and headaches of managing her life all by herself. It will never really be the same, but then again, it shouldn't.
Good luck and farewell, little egg.
The cat clearly wants down here.
Off down the road in her car Patty, followed by the pack of family dogs.
Sweet Sorrow
ReplyDelete'snif'
DeleteGood luck with your worrying the experiment is not ending it is just beginning.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right.
DeleteIt is most certainly bittersweet when they leave the nest.
ReplyDeleteWe've done it three times. All three turned out great. Miss having them around all the time but proud that they turned out so wonderful.
I'm already missing her, but I'll get over it (maybe).
DeleteNow all of the young men, brimming with testosterone will be eyeing those freckles...
ReplyDeleteNow her old dad, brimming with angry bile, will be eyeing his 12 gauge shotgun.
DeleteMay I suggest 'cold, detached and cunning malice' instead of angry bile? Works better, in my experience.
Delete/RAF
I think the line, "I've been to prison, and I'm not afraid to go back," would be good to work in somewhere in the conversation.
DeleteIt ain't fittin', it just ain't fittin'! Still have the last of my four daughters at home and here, I wish she would stay. :)
ReplyDeleteKeep her as long as she's willing, but be ready to let go at the proper time. It's tough being a dad sometimes, especially with those daughters.
DeleteWhoops! I see I wrote four daughters instead of five.:)
DeleteI thought it was five! Age and good Bourbon can catch up with us sometimes!
DeleteI feel your pain buddy. Just wait till you get that phone call and post card from Morocco!!
ReplyDeleteDon't even start with me. You had unimaginable fortitude to live through that adventure.
DeleteAnd the worry will never, ever stop. My boys are almost 50. The oldest one lives nearby and comes for dinner every Friday. They both are doing quite well, but, you know....always a mamma hen.
ReplyDeleteI hear that. By the way, how our your "girls" doing in this cold weather? Do you have a heater or anything in the coop?
DeleteThe girls are fine, but Charlie had frostbite on his wattles - I posted some pics - Poor Charlie! :o(
DeleteTell him to look on the bright side of things since he will end up better off than the one did Christmas Day in GWTW. :)
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