One year ago, I began writing this blog. At the time, I was starting to feel the daily circle of activity that revolved around working, doing for the kids and their school, shrinking to work, some involvement with the kids and hardly any with the school. I found I actually had time on my hands. So with the help of my good friend and talented blogger, Kristen, I found blogging – my modern day form of letter writing.
Pre-email, internet and blogging, I would write letters to my cousins in Greece all the time. When friends moved away, I would write to them. Much like my blogs, they didn’t respond as often as I wrote, but that’s okay. When I get together with them and start talking about my most recent experiences, often times they say, “I know, I read it in your blog”. They never comment, but they are there.
At first, I thought I would write about adult outings in new, fun places – life after kids. But I realized there wasn’t enough of that and the kids are not done with me. The roles, though have changed. Rather than be in their face, I’m on the sideline now. They talk and discuss and I lend my ear and my heart. Twenty three years of raising them has not gone by fast. I felt every day of those hectic schedules, good times and bad. I helped them solve life’s problems, trying to guide them to be independent thinkers with good values. I’m satisfied and breathing a sigh of relief those days are over. I think they are too.
As I grow into the next blogging year, I’m not sure where it will take me. I’m a little unsettled lately. Some of my close friends who I've known through our kids are starting to move to more scenic places where they will see the ocean every morning at breakfast or never wear another winter coat again. There will be changes and new adventures for me and my husband but I'm not sure where or what yet. The predictability of life when all the kids were in school and planning around five schedules is almost over. Thomas, in this final year of high school, is playing a starting position on the school football team. It will be our last involvement with a high school for one of our own. Never again will I have to go to another Parent's Night or meet with the guidance counselor or get the dreaded phone call from the school nurse. I’m going to savor this last year like no other before it. Tony and I are going to every football game and can’t wait.
As for my husband and I, we talk about more travel, moving and waking up to something scenic too. It would also not surprise me if we wound up staying in the same house forever. Right now, it's all a mystery, to be continued.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
One year ago
One year ago, I began writing this blog. At the time, I was starting to feel the daily circle of activity that revolved around working, doing for the kids and their school, shrinking to work, some involvement with the kids and hardly any with the school. I found I actually had time on my hands. So with the help of my good friend and talented blogger, Kristen, I found blogging – my modern day form of letter writing.
Pre-email, internet and blogging, I would write letters to my cousins in Greece all the time. When friends moved away, I would write to them. Much like my blogs, they didn’t respond as often as I wrote, but that’s okay. When I get together with them and start talking about my most recent experiences, often times they say, “I know, I read it in your blog”. They never comment, but they are there.
At first, I thought I would write about adult outings in new, fun places – life after kids. But I realized there wasn’t enough of that and the kids are not done with me. The roles, though have changed. Rather than be in their face, I’m on the sideline now. They talk and discuss and I lend my ear and my heart. Twenty three years of raising them has not gone by fast. I felt every day of those hectic schedules, good times and bad. I helped them solve life’s problems, trying to guide them to be independent thinkers with good values. I’m satisfied and breathing a sigh of relief those days are over. I think they are too.
As I grow into the next blogging year, I’m not sure where it will take me. I’m a little unsettled lately. Some of my close friends who I've known through our kids are starting to move to more scenic places where they will see the ocean every morning at breakfast or never wear another winter coat again. There will be changes and new adventures for me and my husband but I'm not sure where or what yet. The predictability of life when all the kids were in school and planning around five schedules is almost over. Thomas, in this final year of high school, is playing a starting position on the school football team. It will be our last involvement with a high school for one of our own. Never again will I have to go to another Parent's Night or meet with the guidance counselor or get the dreaded phone call from the school nurse. I’m going to savor this last year like no other before it. Tony and I are going to every football game and can’t wait.
As for my husband and I, we talk about more travel, moving and waking up to something scenic too. It would also not surprise me if we wound up staying in the same house forever. Right now, it's all a mystery, to be continued.
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6 comments:
Happy Blogiversary! Has it really been a year? Impossible.
So, we've got scenary here on Long Island. We even have beaches. You should check it out. And, don't forget, we've got a killer train layout in the basement. I think Tony would like that a lot. You should move next door.
Congratulations on your one year anniversry! If you had a published edition I would definitely buy it-provided I had a signed edition of course. Maybe you know a good printer. I'm sure that Kristen would be a great neighbor, but the house next to me in Portsmouth is for sale. Right now it's rented by four college seniors whose girlfriends are sunbathing topless as I blog. Rick is thrilled. Please rescue me.
You are both so funny. If I could create my own neighborhood, you would both be the neighbors I would want. Maybe one day.
I have a feeling the topless college girls trump the train layout. Damn.
Happy anniversary...i know it's belated...but...where are the shoes in that picture???? I'm stealing them!
I'm so glad you commented on my blog and I found my way over here. Can I be in your neighborhood too?
I love your perspective on blogging, and I just passed a one year anniversary too. I've found it enormously satisfying to be able to put what's in my head in writing after years of limiting myself largely to business correspondence. I guess that liberal arts degree was good for something!
And I'm inspired by your experience of coming out the other end of parenting. I only have one, which simplifies things a lot, but still . . . My daughter is eight, so I'm eyeballs deep, but I know it's a temporary stage in my life. I'm just happy to have made it through the baby thing (not fun).
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