Carrie, an empty nester single mom, called me and said, “Why is it I am OK and then boom I am immobile? I have cried enough that my son is away at college.”
Well, I think we all have heard that voice in our heads no matter if our kids left for college, work, or marriage. We miss them. Not 24/7 but after we get off the phone or receive an email or when a special occasion is on the calendar or because we haven’t heard their voice in a while or for no named reason at all. We simply and beautifully miss them. How great to love that deeply!
Spring break is here. Some kids are coming home and others made different plans. On the outside we act so supportive, “of course I understand you want to go to….it’s your decision. I will miss seeing you, but go with your friends. You hang up the phone and tears fall. You know you said the right thing and you still wish you could be with them. It will be months until you get that hug and see their eyes.
Other parents are stressed that the noise, mess, arguments will return to their house so they fall into sorrow as well. They don’t want to be pulled on
Depression isn’t a one time feeling nor is it something that you just snap out of . We all need someone to talk to so we don’t stay secretive about our feelings or stuff them. We can take the armor off, “I am ok. I can handle this. I don’t want to be a problem person. There are worse problems than mine. I think people are sick of hearing me talk about missing my kids. I don’t want people to know that I cry about my kid not being home.”
My vote is talk to someone. We all long to be relieved of sorrow and feel a freshness. Remember the book, EVERYONE POOPS? Well, EVERYONE CRIES.
