Crying in the School Supplies Aisle
Hey Mamas!
Let me tell you a funny story that happened 20 years ago in the back of our local grocery store. I was shopping with my then 2 and 3 year old youngest kids. They were squeezed into the front seat of a cart that looked like a car. As we were making our way through the store, I happened upon an older woman (by older, I mean she’s my age now,” crying by the school supplies. I was concerned and asked her if she was ok.
And that’s when I got a glimpse of my own future.
She kept repeating, “Give me a break!” As she told me between sobs, that both her children were leaving home at the same time. She was heartbroken and lamented that she would never get to buy school supplies or lunch bags again. I felt terrible for her but honestly couldn’t relate as my two little honeys were now climbing all over that plastic car cart. As I was trying to wrangle them and comfort her, I remember saying cheerfully “You just go ahead and buy these school supplies and enjoy them yourself!” I have no idea if that was in any way helpful to her, but I had to get the kids back in the cart and finish my shopping before my kids had their own meltdown.
After sharing this crazy story with a few friends and having a good laugh, I knew in the back of my mind that I was going to be there someday too. And I dreaded it.
Fast forward: my oldest is married and pregnant with her first child and those two kids in the cart have graduated from college and are gearing up for their big kid jobs. And me? Well I’m the one crying in the back of the store.
Where did the time go? This fall is the first in 28 years that I have not sent someone back to school. Did we really believe anyone when they told us the child-raising years would fly by? I sure didn’t. But here we are. I dreaded the empty-nest years. I’d so firmly tied my identity to being a mom. I loved it and had no desire to change my role.
How are you feeling as you approach the empty nest years or as you face your own back to school season without kids to buy school supplies for?
If you feel like you could use some company in this next phase of life, I wonder if you might like to go back to school with me this fall. In September, I am hosting two groups: one virtually and one in person in Grand Rapids, MI to share this journey together. I’d love to walk alongside you as you learn to shift your thoughts—from dreading the empty nest to embracing the joy of creating a loving nest for yourself and your family.
What will this next season look like? Let’s find out together!
