I have changed my menu because my daughter, for the first time, is a Vegetarian. Of course, the rest of us will eat as much meat as desired, but there is nothing I wouldn
by Allison | submitted on November 16, 2006
Yes, my daughter is coming home for the holidays, but we aren’t the same. As the college years have moved up, she has lessened her emails and calls with me.
I know she loves me and yet I thought when you love someone you want to talk and share. I just don’t get it, but my real concern is our holidays will be tense. I don’t want to react to her connecting less with me.
It is so hard when there is no prescription of how to relate in these changes. Sure, I have asked her what’s up and what she needs, but she just says, “I am busy, mom. Nothing is wrong.”
I wonder if other parents are concerned about the holidays not going so well because our kids are more independent or what ever they are these days.
I think even if I know how to care for myself and let her be, I am just sad that it isn’t easy loving her these days. She is healthy and she has no problems except what all college kids have in discovering themselves.
Have any of you ever gone through these distances and discovered what the heck it was all about?
A woman, mother, and grandmother, speaks out and gets the vote!
Women this week check their favorite recipes because the kids are coming back home. It
I had a day and evening with a friend of fifteen years, who is also an empty nester. Both of our girls are seniors in college. We hadn
by Natalie Caine | submitted on November 3, 2006
I know this sounds so insecure and if you knew me, you would be shocked to hear me write these words. First, I am not an insecure woman or mother. I am just feeling out of control. Yes, I have a full life, blah blah blah. That is not the issue.
My daughter is coming home for Thanksgiving from her junior year in college. We have a good relationship, but this year has been less connected. She expresses confusion, doubts, things she doesn’t like about me, which is healthy in the bigger picture. My insecurity is wanting a pleasant turkey holiday and my not being able to handle her mood shifts or anger if it shows up. I don’t need perfection or Martha Stewart moments. I do need to not walk on egg shells since some feelings she has, she is not ready to talk about, Unknown is hard to hold, at times. In other words, there might be tension between us since not all has been said to each other.
My bubble burst when she first revealed some of her pain about me. I did deal with it well and acknowledged her courage in telling me. I said what was true for me and not true.
Gosh, I just think I want a break from problems. I know that is unreal. I know I should feel that I could handle whatever comes my way, but truth is, I don’t feel that way today. Maybe tomorrow I will feel bigger than a problem that might arrive in my delicious smelling pumpkin kitchen that has memories of, “I am so thankful for being your mom.” I am so thankful you are my mom, cause you are the best mom any kid could ever have.”
Hope I don’t dry out the turkey and burn the stuffing, but I wish that were my only concern. I want that innocence back where kids just look up at you with that glow and grin. They wrap their sweet arms around your neck.
Well, these days, I don’t like the way my neck looks, just like Nora Ephron wrote in her newest book.
Ok, thanks for listening. I just needed to say I want a break from problems.
Can anyone relate?
Out of control MOM
Each year we get less adorable trick or treaters. I still love opening the door and hearing,
I still don
I am curious about what sacrifices you made over the years of parenting. For sure, sleep and money would be on my list. I don
My daughter
I remember the excitement and stress of Rachael heading towards college when she was a senior in high school. SAT, college application deadlines, the essay, college tour planning, finances, hours for community service, fears of rejection, and clueless thoughts about which college was the right fit for her. Rachael found the fit and is a happy senior in the college of her choice.
The emotional roller coast came to town when she was in high school. Our household and the parents and friends we had as a community were living the last fill in the blank, soccer game, etc. and the jumping up and down or deep cries of ,
It has been a week of bitter news so I thought I would warm it up a little.
How I start my day? My new habit is to light a pumpkin spice candle that sits in a jar in our bathroom. My fear of forgetting to blow it out is covered by a post it I leave in my car,
Natalie Caine, M.A. natalie@lifeintransition.org