When a full house becomes ‘almost’ an empty nest

The store aisles and ads have been preparing us for the start of the school year, but as August dawns upon us, we often have mixed feelings.

For me, especially, this August will be bittersweet. After a delayed entry into the same daycare as his brothers due to not walking, my youngest will be participating in the same routine as his older brothers. He’ll share the same playground but will be in a different class.

It will be the first time in three years that I won’t have a child at home during the day.

I have been blessed to be able to manage my teaching schedule so that I could be home partially during the week, with a sitter during the times I was at work. It’s worked out well, especially because of the physical therapy appointments to strengthen his legs and walking capabilities.

Over the summer, I’ve watched him take off – from a hesitant pulling up in May to confidently cruising across the room, always holding on to something for balance and never letting go.

Recently, I brought him for a visit day to show him his classroom and his new friends. I also showed his teachers some of the exercises we do to help encourage him to take those first steps on his own.

He sat in the middle of the room, watching intently and then took off at full crawling speed, eager to join in with the play. He’ll fit right in.

But it doesn’t help my mama heart. And, there’s no preparation for the hand-off – the knowledge that when I usher my twins into their rooms and then pass off my baby to his new teacher, I’ll be returning to an empty house.

Certainly, my rational brain lists all of the things I have yet to do for my college students, and all of the unpacking that remaihttps://clarionherald.org/news/when-a-full-house-becomes-almost-an-empty-nestns to be done. But this is yet another milestone on the way to growing up – and it all happens so soon.

And so, we make the most of our time left together. Our days of playing cars and shaking the maracas, of reading books and listening to Raffi – relishing our alone time until the twins rush in like tornados, eager to share their stories and toys.

And soon, I know, that image will be multiplied by three – three little tornados running through the house, sharing their excitement at being reunited at last.

hbozantwitcher@clarionherald.org