So many changes

This past year has brought so many changes.
So many endings.
So many new beginnings.

I have trouble with the new beginnings and get stuck on the endings though.

But in summary: the oldest is a freshman at college and living on campus, the middle child is in high school, and the youngest stopped homeschooling and is at the local junior high.

For the first time in 19 years, I don't have a child home all day with me.

Um, what?

I always knew the day would eventually come. I mean, after all, the whole point of raising children is so that they can get to a point where they would spread their wings and fly. But it came in the fall and I was absolutely, with a doubt, completely unprepared for it.

I always imagined when that day came, it would be more celebratory. Like I'd go out and party and do all the things and tackle all the to do lists and have so much fun celebrating freedom.

Turns out, it wasn't quite like that.

Firstly, I was still so tired. Frankly, I'm still too tired. I did actually make a to-do list called "All the things I will do when the kids are out of the house." I believe I crossed one thing off. Oops!

Secondly, it's not like my kids were packing up and leaving for good. And, even college aged kids still need their mamas. So kids being physically gone during the day doesn't mean they are emotionally gone.

But really, I was stuck. I was stuck in the endings.
I was stuck in homeschooling ending.
I was stuck in my oldest's childhood ending.
I was stuck in my role as a stay-at-home-mom ending.
I was stuck in my role as a care giver ending.

So much change. So fast. All at once.

I don't handle change well, and when it seems like EVERYTHING is changing, I kind of just shut down and get lost.

It's been 9 months. We are nearing the end of the school year. If this was a pregnancy, I'd be gearing up to give birth now.

I'm not quite there - I'm not ready 100% okay with everything that has changed. I'm still mourning some things, but it is getting better. I'm doing a better job of remember all the new beginnings.

But it's so hard. It's just so hard. I'm trying. I'm moving faster than frozen molasses, but slowly, I'm getting there.