Thoughts about and for my kids

My trip to Washington to greet Matthew as he returned from Afghanistan was amazing. It was a great weight from my shoulders to see him back on US soil, safe and sound. It was not until I had arrived at the relative isolation and anonymity of my Barbie-doll seat on the return flight however, that the tears came. They were both an uninvited guest and a somewhat welcome release. I did my best not to cast that blubbery cloud on the limited time I had to visit. I wanted it to be a happy visit and it was. The overwhelming sadness I felt was almost too much to bear. I told myself that I was sad because it felt like my family was breaking apart. From there, I traveled to the land of empty nests where one is allowed to mourn for the fleeting years of their childhoods now long gone. The evolution of my progeny from infancy to their current state of independent adulthood is acceptable as it is the expected and desired outcome-the payoff for all those turbulent years of rearing. There is a large measure of satisfaction in seeing them achieve adulthood. So why the sadness? Well, the very independence that I so determinedly passed on to them has now taken over and they are all forging their paths through the world. And this is a problem because . . . ? Aha, the bitter truth emerges: their independence forces me to face my own mortality. So, dear children, are you listening? Pay attention now and hear me well. I implore you - each of you - do NOT allow that Vera Jo gene to invade. It is the very devil - SATAN himself!! No matter what, you can never, ever, turn your back and walk away from your family! In the end, what do any of us have anyway? Family is all that we have. We come into this world with a family and we go out the same way. Nothing else is as important as your family. They are the ones who love you even when you don't want them to. They love you even when they, themselves, don't want to. Don't believe it if anyone says any differently. Do your best to stay within one day's road trip from each other. Your life may depend on it! Really!! You will be so glad you did. Kids need their cousins. Think about it - James, Katherine, Michelle, Kelly, Jennifer, Jason; and don't forget Tammy and Tiffany; Rhiannon, Stephanie, and Jeremy' Stephen and Ramona. Don't you all wish you'd had more opportunities to be together? I know you do. Remember all those times when Jennifer and Tiffany would come and stay with us and the times we went on road trips together? Great fun, good times, wonderful memories, right? Don't deprive your children of memories like those!! They are priceless treasures and worth more than you could ever imagine! You all have the foundation that you need to do well in life. How you all arrived there is a mystery to me-I take no credit whatsoever. Nature vs. nurture is the age old debate, but the debate notwithstanding, I have always believed that people become what they become either because of their environment or in spite of it, and usually some combination thereof. As each of you continues on your individual journey, know that I am extremely proud of you all and I feel particularly blessed that God placed each of you in my life. Take a moment to reflect and you will discover that, individually as well as collectively, you are making your own unique and worthy contributions to society. Never sell yourselves short!