Transitions

I wrote about change a few weeks ago as I was dealing with my husband’s announcement that he is taking a job in another state and all that means for our household, packing, moving, new friends, new …EVERYTHING. The change I’m writing about today is more about growth, thus, transition.

Our youngest daughter played volleyball growing up and now coaches. I hear her shout, “Transition!” Which in my limited volleyball language, means change your position, move to another spot so you can be ready for what is coming next.

As I watch this same daughter transition into womanhood, a real job, marriage; I see myself moving out of the picture.

I have already observed myself being shoved out of the picture with my oldest daughter. With her job, (two actually,) a husband and a nice house, she for sure doesn’t need me like she did years ago. Through this, I can’t help but hear the word, “Transition!” The first child seems to catch the brunt of the blunders as parents learn to ‘transition’ through these stages but we have made it through!

You’ve heard it said that parenting is the only job where if you do the job right, you work yourself out of a job. I guess I did it right. They don’t need me. It’s as it should be. But no one said it would be easy. However, no one helped me fully understand how much I would love to see them be independent, strong young women.

Yes, I still like to think my girls need me in some way, as I still need my mother. But that need is more about want, about wisdom, about sharing and growing and LOVE.

Yeah, transitions are so bad.