After: 5 Minute Friday
I’ve been reading this blog by Lisa-Jo for a handful of years.
And for at least the past year every Friday she has offered an invitation to write a five minute blog post from a specific prompt.
I’ve never participated before. I don’t know why. Or why not.
But I feel like joining this week.
The prompt is “after” and the challenge is to write with no editing or correcting for five minutes only.
And when five minutes is reached, stop typing.
(Sounds so deceptively simple.)
After.
After September she will be gone.
Her room will be empty. Her bed will be made. And she won’t be sleeping in it.
An eighth plate won’t be set at dinner and the dishwasher may never be unloaded again.
And I know I’ll ask myself in a hundred ways ….
Was I good enough?
Did I do any of it right?
I have no idea how to parent a child after.
After they grow up.
After they leave the house and leave the town and leave the country altogether.
After seems distant and inevitable and immediate and permanent and a jumble of adjectives that don’t work well together.
After seems looming and tragic and heavy and more than I can possibly bear.
stop
15 Comments
godschick
Glad you decided to post today! I just started a few weeks ago so we are both newbies. I like your post and also LOVE the picture of your family in the banner. So beautiful! Thanks for posting or I wouldn't have found your blog! Blessings!
lacey35
Thank you – I am going to be really sad when my kids are too old to use that picture any longer on the blog! 🙂
fionacharisbrown
Nope, not going there, not even thinking about that stage in my life….eeeeekkk!!!! Congrats for joining in and for sticking to the time frame – (not everyone does!!!). I love the Elisabeth Elliot quite on your blog.
Beth
It was so hard to watch my oldest son leave and I didn't know how I would survive, but I now love the new relationship we enjoy. While I miss him like crazy, there are so many joys in this after too. So glad you decided to join the FMF today. Blessings to you.
lacey35
I am anticipating and looking forward to The Next joys as well. I know they will be good too.
Amy P Boyd
My two (my only 2) both left the nest within a week of each other. That is one of the hardest afters that I faced at the time. However, a year later I have to tell you that there are new and exciting joys to be found in this after. May God wrap His loving arms around you and comfort you in the transition.
cassi
Welcome to Five Minute Fridays, great starter post! My little one turned ten this past month and I caught between the present and knowing the after is coming sooner than I want. love your words here
Osheta Moore
Welcome to FMF! I'm so glad you shared. The "after" is always the hard part when someone leaves. My kids are still young (10,7, and 6) but as I read this, I thought of all the friends I've made here in Boston that have left for a new job, program, or marriage. We live in such a transitory city, that I've had to learn to treasure the time and people I have now and hold them loosly, trusting that God has them firmly in his hand. I hope you join us again next week.
Kimberly Amici
My kids are young and I can't even imagine when they day comes for them to leave. I tear come to my eyes just to thing about it. My friend is in the same place as you and we have talked about it often. God will be there with comfort and grace
sarahjmcb
Lacey, so glad you joined in Five Minute Friday this week! What took you so long? 🙂 What did you think?
I'm so sorry your daughter is moving away. I don't know what that's like but can feel your heartbreak through your words. I am sure she will do great things in her life and that you'll be super proud of her 🙂 *Hugs* from another five minute blogger.
Wick
Yikes. As I type this, my 3, 5, and 6 year olds sleep upstairs. I realize someday they'll grow and head out….but at this point it's easy to pretend I'll know how to handle it. I see it every year with the parents of teenagers though…may God bless you as you send her out in God's capable hands…:)
Celeste Vaughan
I've only done this twice myself (this being the second time) and I have an 18 year old leaving the nest in August as well! I know how you feel. I think we can still parent, but we parent differently. If we haven't gotten those core values in by now…we could be in trouble! But they are NEVER too old to cover in prayer. Enjoyed your post…especially since I can SOOOO relate!
lacey35
They are never too old – that is true.
Brenda
First of all welcome to Five Minute Friday! Secondly, I cried with you through your post. I can tell you it is different parenting after they leave, but so rewarding. It is a privilege to watch your children become adults and to see what God had planned for them all along…to see those answers to the years of praying. It is hard and oh so bittersweet, I will be praying for you to soak up all these moments of a full house!
Karmen M.
Oh that after will be so hard, but then you will get to watch her soar and you will see how strong she is and how well you have raised her. A baby bird can only fly after a momma lets it out of the nest. But I am sure that the momma birds heart still dips as she watches that baby jump from the safety of home and drop out of sight for those first few moments. I am not at the nest flying stage yet, but I can imagine all of the questions of how the after will look. Glad you posted. Coming here from FMF