Monday, July 15, 2013

I miss my kids...

My kids are grown and now their own kids are growing up, so this isn't exactly a recent thing.

I don't miss them as in wanting them back as kids again, but I miss that season of life, when they were all home and their noise and chaos filled our lives. I had no idea as we went through those years, how fast they would fly by, and how quickly our nest would be empty.

These are good years, even fulfilling in ways I didn't know about back then, but still... I miss my kids!

I don't have anyone to order around, and I don't have anyone to run to the store with, haul to yet one more activity, go on a special little shopping adventure, or just 'hanging', as we did all through those years. Even though they were our kids, and the responsibility of always guiding and instructing them was there... so were they!

There is no one I'd rather spend time with these days than my grown kids and their kids. They have become such special people, each one of them.

There is a part of me that would not go back for anything, but there is another part... 

I think it will always be there.

I know... "you have raised them, they are on their own and raising wonderful families, just like you prayed for"... I know all of that. Still...

Sometimes I miss my kids.


16 comments:

Debbie said...

Oh Sonja how I identify with this! It might just has well been me writing it! Grandmahood can't be beat in any way, but STILL. I just miss those times with my kids. When I can get ANY of my kids alone for just a little bit I am all over it. It is just rare and doesn't happen much anymore. Looking back now how blessed I really way to have 4 of them, though when I was knee deep in it there was the moments I wondered whatever was God thinking? haha If there was one thing I could honestly convey to young parents today it would be CHERISH this time as it is over in a blink of any eye. Hope you are having a good day!

myletterstoemily said...

i remember the first time i had to go to
the grocery store alone . . . it was the
pits.

guess we have to be content with
cherishing the memories and making
new ones. hans and i have been in
colorado by ourselves for several days
and haven't missed ANYone. :)

Sharon said...

Oh yes, Sonja!!

Lately I've been missing my two sons sooo much. Yes, I live farther away now (2 hours), but still...

It isn't the distance. It's the *having them around me all the time* that I miss. The conversations, the bantering, the joking - the nudges and pokes. The smiles. The ability to look them in the eyes and say, "I love you."

The only thing that helps me in these *homesick* years is knowing that one day I will have FOREVER to be with them. In the presence of our Lord.

Boy oh boy - are we gonna have some fun then!! (And NEVER again any good-byes!)

GOD BLESS!

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Dear, dear SONJA!!!!!!!!

I see that you came by yesterday and while in the middle of busy activity, one of the things I love so much is connecting with the world in front of me and beyond me. Thank you for your kind and sincere words on your comment, and here, this is a most special post....I have no children of my own, but being a teacher puts you in a special position as well to appreciate the fleeting phases of childhood. What a gift God has given us to GIVE US A SOUL!! WE ARE GUARANTEED eternal life in Him and also given a chance to practice living in this life; you have DONE IT. You have raised a family and no one can take away your memories! WOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!!!!

Bless you my friend. You too are a blessing in Blogland for me, and I so appreciate your thoughts. Anita

Debbie Petras said...

Oh Sonja, those years go by so quickly and now you are in a different season of life. Grandchildren are fun to spoil and yet ...teach. I hear you though. I miss spending each day with my parents and my brother and sister. We're all grown up now so it's different.

Love you and sending you a hug,
Debbie

manthano said...

That just proves you are a real parent.
Thanks for the post.

Sandy said...

When our Seth got married two years ago I thought I would never get over the sadness. I am thankful he married a wonderful Christian girl but I still miss him terribly. It's just hard to realize that our kids grow up and lead lives apart from us. My mother used to say it was hard because she had to admit that her (8) kids could get along without her, didn't really need her anymore. I told her we would always need her!
Hugs~

Farm Girl said...

It is so true and the way they laugh at our jokes. I am thankful but still I know just what you mean and yes, it goes by way too fast.

Joe and Molly said...

. . . and your kids also miss you, mom!!!

Elizabeth "Libby" Day said...

Sonja, thank you for becoming my new blogger friend. I'm so glad you stopped by today and hope you will visit often. I do understand the desire and sometimes need to go back to the way things used to be. However, I do love this period of our lives where we are retired and our kids are well established and successful in their own right. Neither would I want to go back a single day, so have decided to just be grateful for the time we can share with our grown kids and grands. Those are precious!

Vee said...

You said it so well. I miss the children they were and I'm already missing the younger children my grands used to be. Wait! I may be missing my younger self while I'm at it. ; D

Debbie said...

Oh how well I understand!! Mine are inching away day by day, and I miss the days when they were under my roof. I've learned to hold to every minute that I have with them and find the sunshine in this stage because I know that one day I'll look back and think that THESE days were good old days too.

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

As my kids grow older, I notice this shift as well. Just last Sunday, daughter did something in church - she shrugged off my touch . . . just enough to let me know that she's worried about who's watching. Her gesture struck my heart, and for a moment, I realized the shifting sand beneath our feet.

I miss my older boys. This is the first move we've made without them. We're all adjusting to these growing pains.

Peace to you this day, and may God soothe the ache within as only he can.

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

I know this even though I still have two at home. I am bad about just calling their phones to hear their answering machine so I can hear their voices...even miss hearing their footsteps...I, too miss my kids at times and my husband reminds me that we still have two at home.
Great, great post!!

Just a little something from Judy said...

I do so understand this heart written post. I feel the joy and the sadness as I read each word. Sometimes I watch our daughters going about the everyday activities of mothering and I think to myself, "it will go by so quickly". Sometimes I watch them and cannot believe that my turn is behind and it is now their turn to mother. I agree, it is my great joy to spend time with our adult children. I thank God everyday for the privilege He has blessed me with, to have adult children.

I truly am thankful for the way you share from your heart. You are gifted at drawing others in to what you are saying.

Kathleen said...

OK ... so now I've got tears.

So many times in recent weeks I've thought these exact same things. I've wandered back to the 70s & 80s to remember how simple was life with the wee ones (dotted with a few painful episodes as well). How I wish I knew they WERE the good-ole-days THEN. But this I also know: TODAY is the good-ole-day to come in 10 years time.

Living the moment with you!