Hanging Out While Hanging In

 Ok.  I have something to get off my chest - literally and figuratively.  I need to make a confession.  It's quite ironic that the exact 2 months I began blogging about the Empty Nest are the exact 2 months that our youngest son needed to move back home.  I realize it's just temporary.....but there goes my Empty Nest.  It seemed to happen just when I became the most comfortable in my new-found freedom in my new-found surroundings. It feels like I just began to do as I please when I please.  Be aware that this too could happen to you!

     Sometimes there must be a revolving door on our Empty Nest. Our boy only needed an "in between" place after a lease was up and before a plane carries him across the world for a year of mission work in New Zealand. How could mom and dad say no? Why would mom and dad say no?  Well, of course mom and dad didn't say no!  We can do anything for a short period of time...right? Even if the anticipated one month stay turns into two?  All's great if you keep your expectations low. I learned to not expect deep philosophical conversations with him revealing the deepest secrets of his heart.  Getting an occasional hello as he walked through the kitchen became more than enough for me. 

     Our son knows we welcome him with open arms.  He is worth any sacrifice we would have to make.  What he does not know - and won't unless he reads my blog - is that my biggest sacrifice might come as a surprise. My sacrifice of the utmost was to not be able to hang out while I was hanging in! 

     You see....the VERY first thing I do the VERY first minute I walk through my door is to promptly remove that too-restrictive female undergarment. Do you do the same thing?  You could search the world over for the highest quality brassiere you could find, but you'd still find it a bit uncomfortable. Isn't that true? Oh, the perils of womanhood!

     It's perfectly fine to be slip-sliding-away in the privacy of our own Empty Nest.  It's not ok when young men are present. They might just notice that you are hanging out while you are hanging in! Consequently, the bra brigade begins. Off-on-off again-on again....and on / off it goes......

     My son is what I lovingly call a "popper." He pops in and out unannounced with no forewarning. He has varied work hours never being able to predict when he might "pop" back home.  I have to be ready at a minutes notice to have no headlights shining! What does that mean?  I'm surprised you have the nerve to ask. I have to pretty much carry a bra around with me room to room where ever I might go. I need to be able to whisk one on in a flash. I've gotten quite proficient at it if I do say so myself!  I did try coverup petals but I wear them in fear they could fall out of my shirt and onto his shoes.  That's not a risk I am willing to take!

     My work desk is by a window overlooking the driveway.  If I pay close enough attention, I can see his car pull up before he pops back in.  I then run like a mad woman into the bathroom to re-apply my restrictive device. That way I can be presentable as soon as he walks in the door.  He often finds me coming out of the bathroom.  He probably wonders why his mom spends so much time in the bathroom!  

     Oh, the sacrifices we make for our children - even while trying to relish what was our Empty Nest.

     Is any of this similar to the happenings at your house? Do you also like to run free? Let me know. Please leave your name as you comment below. I appreciate each of you!

Just like a bird

I want to fly free.

Releasing my straps

let's me be me!