It's true what you say about home feeling less proscribed when the kids head off to college. I love having them home, too. But there is such structure to life with kids, often rigid structure. We lived a big chunk of our lives without it before they came along and then, so quickly, we had to adjust to so much less freedom. Once they leave there is this slow reopening to start taking up space we used to take for granted, like the flower in your tea expanding in the water. Thanks for this. It was a great reminder to look for the positive aspects of big changes.
"Slow reopening." That's a beautiful description, and a good reminder that this process takes time. It takes time to happen, and more time to be able to describe, which is why it's SO heartening for me to hear your words. Going to visit your poetry newsletter now!
I love this Asha, and I am starting to feel this too as my children get older. Did you know that I lived in Portland for 2 years in the mid-90s? And weirdly, though I can't remember for the life of me why, I never made it out to the Japanese Gardens!
It's true what you say about home feeling less proscribed when the kids head off to college. I love having them home, too. But there is such structure to life with kids, often rigid structure. We lived a big chunk of our lives without it before they came along and then, so quickly, we had to adjust to so much less freedom. Once they leave there is this slow reopening to start taking up space we used to take for granted, like the flower in your tea expanding in the water. Thanks for this. It was a great reminder to look for the positive aspects of big changes.
"Slow reopening." That's a beautiful description, and a good reminder that this process takes time. It takes time to happen, and more time to be able to describe, which is why it's SO heartening for me to hear your words. Going to visit your poetry newsletter now!
I love this Asha, and I am starting to feel this too as my children get older. Did you know that I lived in Portland for 2 years in the mid-90s? And weirdly, though I can't remember for the life of me why, I never made it out to the Japanese Gardens!
This is beautiful, thank you for sharing.