Free As a Bird

I made it.  I’ve just been admitted to a very exclusive club that requires you be a parent whose children have grown up and left home.  In exchange for less grocery shopping, less cooking, less laundry, and less stress, I get more independence, more time with my spouse, more time to travel and more opportunities to socialize with friends.  Wow!  I feel like I have gone back in time to those dreamy days when Mitch and I, though married, were “single” (i.e. before kids).  I kind of feel guilty for feeling so happy about the next chapter, but really everyone is a winner in this new scenario:  Children are ready to be more independent as they reach yet another developmental milestone and the old people (Mom and Dad) need to recover from years and years of raising those little birdies.  While my four adorable winged creatures have all flown away, the good news is that they remember how to fly back to the nest.  Every now and then, it’s hard for them to resist those delicious worms, unconditional love, childhood memories and hugs only Mom and Dad can provide.