This week my Word of the Week is:
This week has been a brilliant but strange week! Everything has felt like it's off kilter. We've had days and nights out, big life things happening and lots of little things which are different from our normal.
Ellie left college on Wednesday. Officially, it's her last day today but she didn't have to go in for the rest of the week. There were tears from her and her friend when they realised they would never be in college again together. They'll still of course see each other and already have made plans. It's just the end of college and not their friendship. Everything felt a bit off on Wednesday, it's the end of an era. I have gone for 20 years with kids in education and now it is no more. I'm proud my girls have done so well but now I feel like a bit of a spare part. I thought I'd feel relief or maybe excitement for Ellie's next chapter but instead, I just feel strange. It's hard to explain. For so many years, my life has revolved around school and even when they got older, there was always something. Now suddenly there isn't. I know this is exactly what every parent works towards, raising independent young adults who go off and do their own thing but nobody really talks about how odd it feels when you actually get there.
We went to see the newest Toy Story movie early on in the week and it was fantastic. It was strange walking into the cinema with my girls who weren't even born when the first two movies were released and now they're adults. It was also nice because they had air conditioning in the cinema and it was such a relief from being outside! We got the bus into town and had to go to a different stop because workers were painting new lines in front of our bus stop and then there seemed to be roadworks around every corner which made the journey take twice as long, it felt like torture being on the hot bus.
Records have been broken again here in the UK when it comes to the weather. We've had the hottest day ever recorded in June and it's just getting silly now as I am sure we had the hottest day in May too! Schools have been closed, people have been told not to travel, roads are melting and I am trying to enjoy it because I know it is not going to last. We went to my dad's on Thursday and his place was roasting even with fans going. He'd been out all morning and with the door shut it felt like an oven, it was actually cooler outside in the shade. lol We went into the shed where one of his vintage cars is and because of the plastic roof, it felt like a greenhouse! How he works there I don't know! My dad is a strange one, the heat doesn't bother him at all, although my brother and I do have to keep reminding him to drink plenty.
Tuesday is usually the day when I watch Monday night's episode of the wresting and this week I haven't got around to it yet! It made me laugh a bit because if you’d told me a month ago I’d miss wrestling because I was too busy with life I would have rolled my eyes. I am blaming all the football I have been watching. I need to catch up today with Monday's episode of wrestling and last nights episode as there is a live event tonight. That is how this week has been, it has been all over the place. We went out on Tuesday night to watch the England match and I have said never again. They can be playing on top form but if we go out somewhere to watch them, they never seem to win. I know it's just a coincidence but it is a strange one. We went to my dad's a day early because Ellie was out with friends last night celebrating the end of college and even getting the food shopping delivered yesterday felt strange as that is usually a Thursday job.
How has your week been? I hope you have had a good one! I am of course linking up with Anne who blogs at Raisie Bay to join in with her Word of the Week linky!
Being an empty nester is a weird feeling. It takes a while, but eventually you learn how to have a new kind of life. And then, eventually they marry and have kids of their own, and you have a houseful of children again! :)
ReplyDeleteHello friend. As you know I have mentioned so many times how weird, strange and to be honest lost at times this season can be. I am still in it in some ways. Oh, reading what you wrote actually stirred my heart for you because I can feel it so much and I could write the way you feel as well. Exact words. You all are having some major heat waves and I cannot imagine not having air conditioning.
ReplyDeleteI never had kids until I married Joe. The boys were 16 and 20. Joey was in college and away most of the time, and Jeff was in high school and working part-time after school, so he wasn't around much either. A totally different experience from yours! I can only imagine. I hope you get caught up on your sporting events! Stay cool over there! xo
ReplyDeleteI still have a couple of years of college left and I worry that I'm never going to experience an empty nest. I try so hard to instil independence in my kids but still they hold on. I keep telling me it will happen one day, maybe. The heat has been, well, hot! We came back from a very hot France to a very hot Britain, so I guess we were broken in a little more. I haven't been out at all. I have had to cancel two meet ups with my friends for different reasons. It's sound like your dad is made of stern stuff to keep on working in the heat of his shed. It sounds like your girls are doing well and I'm sure with your relationship with Stu you will face whatever the future holds x
ReplyDeleteIt does feel strange as a mum when your role changes over the years. You want them to be independent but miss the times when they needed you. Sending you a big hug x
ReplyDeleteIt will feel strange with the last of the school/college days ending, but you still have the girls at home and you are lucky that them leaving the nest is being done over a period of time rather than just having the apron strings cut, it's a nice way for it to be done, but doesn't mean you won't find it hard to adapt to. #wotw
ReplyDeleteThe end of an era for you and Ellie with Ellie leaving college. I can imagine it must feel very strange. Good luck to her for the next chapter in her life. Glad you enjoyed seeing the new Toy Story movie and I can imagine the air con was a relief with the heatwave! I enjoyed the sunshine but not the level of heat! Hope you’re feeling cooler this week and have managed to catch up with the wrestling. #WotW
ReplyDeleteSuch a huge transition for all of you! Being an empty nester isn't for the faint of heart! Like you said, it's rewarding seeing your kids fly off into the world to be on their own, but I can't imagine it's easy on your heart. I'm not ready for that yet, but I know it's going to come too quickly!
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