Ebb and Flow

We once again entered the all to familiar surgical center this week. My mind raced at times that we cannot do this again and yet, we did and we faced down another unknown giant. Whereas she was in significant pain and the recovery much more than she bargained for, there was no collective holding of breath while anticipating pathology results. That portion we were spared this round, and so we looked into the eye of this monster that keeps rearing it's messy head and declared it, "enough." We cannot keep up with this. Let the doctors panic; we won't be joining them anymore. It will be what it will be. It always is anyway. So with ridiculous peace, we entered the OR and laughed with nurses and planned a giant brunch immediately after because we have enough experience to know Erin will always wake happy and hungry from anesthesia. And so after a delicious meal, she crashed while I read and kept watch on her sofa with a skittish cat studying my every move. I later convinced her to come stay with us so I could nurture and she could rest. And when she returned home, just a day later, the cat remained. Miss Ada may not pay the mortgage at her house but she is most definitely the one in charge. Ada wasn't ready to leave Mimi's house when Erin craved her own bed and shower. The little boss misses her Mom. Mimi does too. Thank goodness for our regular Sunday visits. 

This tree shades Erin's deck. Isn't it gorgeous? 

I've spoken with a few friends this week and had the all too familiar conversation about how challenging the parenting of young adults proves to be. Why is it no one speaks of this season? There is so much said in support of mothers in the endless days of tantrums and sleepless nights but so little said of the nineteen year old equivalent of "you're not the boss of me." We as mothers who so willingly sit in the sidelines watching our children soar (or not) suddenly find ourselves thrust onto a roller coaster we never believed we'd ride. Gone are the days of naps and time outs resetting the tone of a day and yes, those days were so exhausting too. But what we didn't prepare our hearts for was the ups and downs of late teens into early twenties. Now they can date people they meet online and flounder in and out of contentment and seek alternatives to the loving God you pray they love back in the end. And this is with the kids that most declare, "good." We are tired. The whole lot of us and discovering we aren't alone in our observations, concerns and prayers is imperative. Where is the Moms of Young Adults support group and do they serve wine?

Makenna and Noah gained a brand new nephew this week. His daddy is enlisted and away for training so Makenna was invited to assist in the delivery room. She was already pretty in love with sweet Wyatt before his grand entrance into the world but now she is head over heels in love. Of course she is.

Kate is staying with a friend this weekend and how we have entered the phase of teens home alone is beyond me. She makes smart choices, keeps her circle small and only heads out late at night for ice cream. And so I freshen her room and text often with please be careful on the road messages because it means "I love you" in a less obnoxious way. We are a year away from her leaving our nest more frequently and I'm doing what I can to prepare my heart. It's not going well.