The Nest!

I have avoided writing this summer, as my youngest graduated high school and my 3 babies will all be in college this Fall. Having 3 babies in 3 years was overwhelming when they were little, but my Mom talked about how great it will be to have them close in age. She was right, while crazy at times, we have loved this journey and parenting these 3 amazing human beings has been my greatest work and blessing. It is bittersweet, because I am letting go of having my babies home (or at least one of them), under my roof and in my care. For 22 years, I have built my life around my family and being a Mom, I learned to balance work and life and it has been both messy and magical.

Fortunately they are still home during breaks and I am learning that college is this time of transition for both parents and their children, they become more independent and when they graduate within that year, they are usually flying the nest.

I feel deeply, I always have. Life stages are both exciting and emotional for me, I am sentimental when it comes to many things, and when it comes to my children, I get overwhelmed with emotion, feelings and that can throw me off.

We have prepared them and while I give credit to the people in our lives and theirs, my husband and I have made a great team when it comes to home and family. The past two decades has been a family centered life, we have dedicated so much and invested so much to creating a home and life with family at the core. What I have not prepared for is when they really do leave, when they really do spread their wings, and knowing that they are ready to fly. As my parents said to me “Fly Little Birdie, Fly”! This Momma bird wants to hold on tight, but this Momma bird also knows she needs to let go.

I annoy them with my life lessons, but somehow, someway, I know they are listening, and if they don’t get the message today, they will apply the message and understand the love and care in my words. If I am not preaching and teaching, I am making them laugh, we have our own language in my family, and many of these sayings or memories make us laugh. Laughter in our home is our love language. I look at my kids and I am in awe of the amazing young adults they are. We love our kids but we also love being with them and the friendships we have, that was the vision way back when, and to see it actually be true, and be us, is just the reward of years and years of building a family centered life.

We refer to our family as Guyer 5. We have a text group chat Guyer 5. There are times it is just updates on important dates or information, and other times it is funny things that happen in our day. I actually do Mom Car Karaoke & share that with them (and lots of pics of our puppies, and the simple things that bring us all together).

Like all brothers and sisters, they can fight, but what I love most is that they are close, they share this common bond of Growing up Guyer and all of the memories along the way.

I will write more about Empty Nesting this Fall. My husband and I are making jokes about it because quite honestly it is both scary and exciting. We had babies right away, so we never really had our time as a couple, which will be nice after all these years. We want to do new things, and venture out be it travel or day tripping (oh and he is already talking about trips to campus and catching Cam’s football games). We will need to rediscover ourselves and our relationship and that will be a journey for sure. My hope (and vision) is that I take this time to focus on me, getting back on track with fitness, yoga, eating, sleep and a super HIPP routine. But this week, my last week before we drop our son off on Campus 7 hours away I am swept in the awe of how fast it goes by. I am realizing that childhood is a season, and while the days were long when they were little, the years truly fly by.

While my nest will soon be empty, my heart will remain full. My greatest honor in life is being their Mom, and while I might be letting go, I am always going to be there for them through my words, my laugh, my smile, my text, my videos (sorry kids) and my hugs.

Fly little Birdies Fly, remember who you are, what you stand for and that your Momma loves you so very much!