Monday, August 2, 2010

All My Children

Where are they now??



 2.5 hours away, Married, 6 children, Network Engineer




 20 hours away, Married, ESL Instructor




 11 hours away, Married, Baby Arrival Imminent
Circulation Desk Librarian



3 hours away, Not yet Attached, Machine Operator



0 hours away, Ass't. Night Manager Grocery Store
We're not letting this one leave. ;-)

Enjoy these years while you're children are at home.
The time goes faster than you think.
We taught our children to be
independent and self-sufficient.
What did we get?
Children who are independent and self-sufficient.

Which means:
They grew up and moved away.

What were we thinking??  ;-)

13 comments:

Michelle said...

Ahh, what a fun post! Wow, did I count 5!? We're enjoying two of our own (3&4)! Very fun ages indeed and heading down the stairs right now, so I better wrap up. You have a beautiful family, God Bless!

Unknown said...

Wow.. what a great family you have... even if they aren't right there with you :) My mom would love to have me closer...hell, she'd love me to still be living at home! lol

Pam said...

I know the feeling about teaching them to be self sufficient. Trying to decide if I want them to be or not because it means they'll move away.
I laughed about your twitter and facebook comment. I don't facebook either and the only thing I do on twitter is post contests. I am behind the times. :)

Yenta Mary said...

They do grow up WAAAAY too quickly! Jeremy will be 20 in January ... I can hardly comprehend it. He's going camping for 2 nights with a buddy; he usually doesn't go much of anywhere, so it will be strange to go home to an empty house. Part freedom, part cutting of ye olde umbilical cord! Your kids have jobs *I* want -- librarian, access to a grocery store, and especially ESL instructor ... :)

Unknown said...

Wait! So I need to stop that independent/self-sufficient stuff or she'll leave me?!? Oh, no!

Mama Hen said...

What a cute post! Beautiful family!

Mama Hen

partialemptynester said...

OH, I love this post! I'm on that brink, ready to see them fly, yet still enjoying our warm little nest...it will happen in the blink of an eye, so I'm taking your advice and soaking it all in today...these are the kinds of posts that make me think, become a bit nostalgic, and appreciate each day, as well, so thank you so for sharing! (btw, I had no idea you had sooo many!!)

Judy S. said...

Great post! Two of our three moved away, one came back ten or so years later. Ours have generally shown their independence through travel to places like Romania, Africa, India, China, etc., and you're right, I've thought "What was I thinking?" many times.

Life Happens said...

You have beautiful children!! Don't you wish they were all closer?! At least you have one still at home. Enjoy!

Jennifer Farris said...

You have a beautiful family! And you posed a great question.

Denise said...

I loved this post, so sweet.

Anonymous said...

I had to smile at the pillow person in the bathtub. :)

I don't know if this post makes me feel more sad, or more hopeful. I certainly wouldn't relish a 20 hour drive to see the child who has lived right here under my wing for so long! :) And yet... independent, self-sufficent, competent and satisfied are words that would make me happy if they could be used to describe any of my children's adult lives.

I think the stretching years of adolescence (even the good kind that we are experiencing here) prepare you for the empty nest, just like 9 months of pregnancy prepares you for delivery: at the end of that waiting period, you are READY. :)

Your attitude about it gives me hope, though. I want to also be a content person, in whatever state I am - with children in-house, or without. I hope to find life without kids to be different and yet equally fulfilling in other ways.

And there are always grandchildren... ;)

That was a fun post, I enjoyed the pics!

Deborah said...

Beautiful post my friend. I love it! And I remember watching each and every one of them grow into wonderful adults...raised well by wonderful parents. :)

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