This week has been somewhat like a trip to Disneyland only without the crazy prices for a bottle of water 🙂 .
You know how it goes, the weeks of anticipation as you prepare. The excitement as you see Mickey's ears for the first time. The full days that leave you exhausted but happy deep inside. The stress. And that comfort you feel when you know that your time and effort was all worthwhile. Yes indeed just like Disney.
And like Disney, I feel as if I'm on a roller coaster.
Seeing both of my kids in their "element", living their lives and growing into incredible young adults not only humbles me, but it made me proud, nervous and even a bit nostalgic. It was the first time I actually saw them as adults – I mean real adults, not just my kids growing up. I saw them as people that are making the world a better place. People that I'm proud to know, and people I can even call friends. It was right then as I took it all in, that I knew "we done good".
All the hard work, all the "lessons", all the late nights rocking, soothing and stressing, all the worry over whether or not I screwed them up by being less than exemplary, all of it.
Parenting is hard. And truth be told I will never stop being "mom" or supporting my "kids" as they continue to transition toward new phases in their lives. But this week, I learned that I no longer needed to "take care of" my kids. I realized that from this point forward, that instead of being responsible for them, that I could now "enjoy the ride" with them.
Sure there will be hills and valleys, and maybe even mountains to climb, but I can scream with them. laugh with them, cry with them, pray with them, and enjoy new experiences with them. I no longer have to fix or prevent. I can support and cheer and create memories and giggle in a whole new way.