I wrote a post about how happy I was when all the kids are home. It makes me feel nice. It touched a nerve with guest post author Karen Ocean who submitted this perspective.
Want to know what a mom thinks?
Let’s start with what brought them there? Was it all the things we hear about – dirty laundry, the movie channels we have at home, the “mommy” food, the $20 bucks you have in the cabinet for whatever and the child grabs it and says I’m going to get a pizza and I’ll be back.
Really are they home to spend time with their family or are they needed a respite from the constant going? As a mom, I think that’s what they are looking for. They just want to be in a comfort zone! I know when my 20 year old comes home, it’s all about “chillaxing”. It’s not about catching up with me or anyone else in the family. It’s about familiarity and the ability to just be – without all the “constant going”.
For all the years I parented her and guided her. I now let her guide me into the world she lives and sometimes it makes me think, didn’t I teach her that or talk about that with her when she was younger? Oh good, she was listening. Then there are the times I think why did she do that, what was she thinking why she didn’t talk to be about how difficult that course was that semester. Why did she hide it? And then there’s the friend that’s a boy – NOTE – not boyfriend. We all know what’s going on there and did I teach her enough about that?!
So I go back to the idea of sit back and let her teach me and I know that when she really needs me, I’ll listen, help as best I can, give advice when asked – okay, can you tell my own mother taught me that? And just be there for her, her mom - that reliable person who did so many things for and with her for all those years.
What will you do when your kids come home – no matter what age they are?
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