There are so many different stages during our children’s lives it can be quite mind boggling. For me, I love them all. What I am having a very hard time with is this stage where I am in right now. I think I am going through a mid-life mind momma crisis, to be honest! I find myself day dreaming back to when we were playing in the yard for hours on end and my biggest problem to solve was how to calm my tired, maniac-tantrum having toddler. Now, as they get older the problems just get bigger. I must say, the hubs and I do a great job remaining calm. We aren’t controlling parents. The worry. I can tell you how much I don’t worry until I am blue in the face- I WORRY!

We are at the stage now where my adults are adult-ing and my teens are teen-ing. With that said, they are all doing their own thing on their own timeline. Not one child in my house is the same. They all have different personalities. They are all being raised by the same two parents, it truly is an amazing phenomenon! I have been shown on more occasions than one that they WILL do their own thing. And, what I have found out is that we just need to sit back sometimes and let them. Depending, of course! Please don’t read on and think I am letting my children rule the roost, it’s not like that at all. With a certain amount of grace and rules to follow, my husband and I do let them make a lot of their own decisions. It is the ONLY way they will learn and grow from whatever experience life throws at them. There is nothing worse than being controlled, especially by your parents. They are kind, compassionate, empathetic and respectful humans. On the days they were the absolute biggest assholes at home, I was always able to take them anywhere! Thats a sure sign that you are doing right.

Breaking Free.

I have sat at the beach alone on many ocassions this summer. That is a first for me. I remember rallying up my tribe and spending countless hours at the beach as they play in the sand, swim and allow me to “oooh and ahhh” over the biggest hole they just dug or the most spectacular castle they just built. The beach during the summer was always our biggest hit. I was always home with them. I was a SAHM for over 20 years! All seasons were the best, summer was the absolute best. With this said, this summer so far is quite different. It’s no longer my whole tribe. I am lucky if a couple of them have the free time to come with me. It’s all good. Such is life.

My husband and I have a lot more time for ourselves, another first! We actually leav ethe house together a lot. Whether it is to do errands, go grab some dinner or go on the boat…we are kid-less. I guess it’s a good thing I adore him (wink).

My middle child working teen is getting himself to work. This one hit me hard. I cried a little. Seriously, I did. I watched my middle born drive away in the car that he bought himself, of course with our support, and I cried. I sat in “my spot” in our living room and had a mini “Breaking free” meltdown. That is what I am calling this. I thought at first a few months back that I was starting a mid-life crisis. It turns out that I have diagnosed myself with something else. I am breaking free of all the stages of my children’s life and it’s leaving me feeling confused. It’s also a lot of change. Way too much change for this Momma!

Breaking free is a beautiful thing. Deep down, I know it. It’s just hard. Knowing that my husband and I raised them all these years to give them enough confidence to break free from us is the most precious gift. Breaking free from their stages of life as a Momma is on a whole new level of life moments that I will have to learn to embrace and break free from. New experiences and new stages of life bring a whole lot of change.

Until next time…

Love & Light, Always!