The Mother's Day High That Just Won't Die

Mother's Day weekend wine tasting with my Johnny

 Oh, these college years.

They're like an insidious torture device.

First, you're forced to let your kids go after the super-glue-bonding, high school years.

Just when you finally get used to the quietness and same-ole, same-ole routine of you and your spouse, they come back to visit.

They fill your home with hi-jinks and laughter, only to leave again.

You can barely bear the silence.

Then they come back for a weekend like Mother's Day and smother love and kindness all over you.

Luke and John making me feel SO VERY LOVED on Mother's Day

And then they leave again.

And don't even get me started on May.

 Luke has been out of school for almost the entire month.

Luke playing the theme from The Office. Over and over and over again.

I have been RELISHING the meal making, constant conversation, delightful expressions and bonus hugs.

But in two days he'll be gone again.

What the heck? Who does this to people????!!!!

I realize some of you parents are shouting hallelujah that your kids have finally launched. You are loving the me-time, clean house, and spare bedrooms. You are cherishing the quiet evenings sipping wine with your spouse.

I am clearly not one of your kind.

The good news is, my husband isn't either.

Late-night dinner in Lexington after a last-minute road trip.
Hey...that's ONE bonus to being an empty nester!

This morning Frank made our temporary, only-child-for-the-moment, the most picture-perfect French toast, worthy of a Pancake Pantry poster.

As I headed to get ready for work, Frank was taking his little buddy to the gym, followed by some sort of golf shopping outing.

My husband loves hanging out with his kids just as much as I do.

Maybe we're just weird...which could totally be the case...but family is something else to us. There is simply nothing like it.

Natural highs like these need to be embraced and savored.

You never know when they'll come again.

Kinda like these parenting years.

Their childhoods went by in the blink of an eye.

So I'm sucking the joy out of every moment with them, every chance I get.

Nicole Elizabeth, you're next...