For the most part, I write about what is on my heart at the moment. The only thing I’m thinking about right now is the fact that I’ll have all of my chicks in the roost at one time very soon. I’m giddy with excitement, actually. Silly perhaps, but there it is.
Instead of making it home in time for Christmas, our oldest waits until after the holidays so he can grab a cheaper flight from California. After landing, he rents a car to get himself around better. This year, he’s flying into O’Hare. If he’d depend on me to pick him up from the airport, he’d be sleeping in the terminal because, you see, I’m a little what you’d call directionally challenged.
I’m quite amazed that I have three grown children. When did this happen? Aren’t I still supposed to have to remind them to brush their teeth and prompt them to say thank you? I wonder if they’re eating right and once in a while I’ve even been known to buy them vitamins. My oldest tells me, “Mom, don’t bother, I’d forget to take them anyway.”
As soon as they were born, I had started a diary for each one. Every month or so for years, I’d fill a page or two, writing about some special celebration or something they did that was sweet or cute. I do plan on giving it to them at some point, but for now, I cannot part with it. It never fails as I open those booklets my heart becomes tender and my eyes fill. The time went by so fast!
I remember when they were little, one night a week when their dad would go bowling, the kids and I would burrow on the pull-out couch with Fruit Loops, juice boxes and a pile of books. I’d fluff pillows behind us and we’d snuggle, munch and read until little eyes got sleepy and little heads started to nod.
One of the first times I went to the library with our oldest, he was about 3 or so. He had slipped his hand out of mine, stopped just inside the first door, bent down and started taking his shoes off. “Oh honey!” I said, startled, “What are you doing?” “Taking my shoes off, Momma!” On the rug just inside our house we’d always take off our shoes before going all the way inside and he thought he had to do that at the library! I hid a smile and explained things as I helped him put his shoe back on.
All grown up now with two working and living away from home and our last one attending college, the years have snuck up and taken off — somehow. I always tell new and/or stressed mommas with little children, “This too shall pass. They will grow up and be able to feed themselves, buckle their own seat belt and you won’t be buying diapers forever!” There is always much tending, wiping, changing, soothing, rocking; the days blur and exhaustion sets in easily.
It is all so worth it! I’ve wanted to be a mom for as long as I can remember, and it’s everything, and more, than I expected. Each season brought a wide range of emotions: tears and laughter, heartache, challenges and learning, all cushioned with love. We have a plaque in our living room that sums it up: “Home is Where they Love You.”
It warms my heart that as the years have gone by, our kids have remained close to us and to each other. No matter how far away they are, they know this is their home base, their sure foundation where they were raised and are loved and valued and cherished. The three of them have become good friends as well as siblings. They encourage each other, give each other the business when needed and love each other. There is no better gift for parents. Continually, I commend them for showing that respect and concern for each other.
With much well-spent time on our knees, beseeching our Heavenly Father, we’ve asked for wisdom, for strength and for patience as we’ve reared our children. And now that they are grown, we continue to pray for them daily; for constant angelic protection, for them not to forget what they have learned, remember to Whom they belong and for direction in their own lives.
Ah yes, all the chicks will be home to the roost soon. I just can’t wait!
(“Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it.”)
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