We can feel a change of seasons in the air this time of year.
I can feel it in my heart. Even Jack can sense it.
Today, a wonderful season in our family will end as another beautiful one will begin.
Tonight we will drop our baby boy off at college in the same exact spot where we dropped off his sister Courtney off ten years ago, and his oldest sister Kylee and brother-in-law, too.
Then for the first time in 32 years, my husband and I will drive home to an empty nest.
Gratefully, we’ll be warmly greeted by dog kisses, but still…it will be a surreal feeling to enter a home, and a season, where we will no longer have kids living with us day-to-day.
We have no idea what that will feel like.
When I started this blog (a few houses and twelve years back, ha!), Luke was seven. SEVEN!
Now he’s nineteen.
While The Inspired Room wasn’t a typical “mommy blog” and I didn’t document every aspect of our life here, our family, pups, and key moments in our life have often been a part of our posts, featured in our videos, my books and posted on social media.
This little boy grew along with the blog.
when Luke was in second grade.
I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been shedding tears over this day regularly for about a year now lol!
But they are bittersweet tears.
Still, I’m a hot mess of feelings! But I’m mostly so happy for him. I’m so proud of him. I’m relieved we made it to this day. And mostly, I’m just so so grateful for it all.
This is a happy and expected change of seasons, even though it’s not an easy one. Parenting isn’t for the faint of heart, but it’s been an honor and gift to raise our kids and watch them blossom into amazing people.
It will be a joy to continue being here for them, and creating a home they will always be welcome in.
I’m sure I’ll have lots to process and share in upcoming posts, including thoughts on creating a home for our children over the years and in learning new rhythms for our days and in creating a home going forward.
But today, I’ll be letting myself feel all the mom feelings.
I’ll shed more bittersweet tears.
And as much as I’ll want to hold on forever, I’ll whisper I love you, buddy, squeeze him tight and let him go. Then a new season can begin.
Follow me on Instagram stories for behind the scenes! Thank you for following along not only with the changes in our home, but in our family, too. I’m grateful to have such a wonderful community here to share life with!
Oh Melissa! Big hugs for today. I’ll be squeezing my babies extra tight today too. ❤
All the best to Luke in his next chapter! And all the best to Mom in hers! You have such a beautiful family.
Love your blog and your books! Thank you!
Congratulations on a job well done. Prayers for Luke and y’all.
??? good job mama!!!
This hit home…I only have one child (well, he’s now 38!) but I recall that feeling when he left for college and even more when he moved into his first apartment. Now I’m a widow and getting ready to retire in a few weeks and I suspect I’ll go through many of the same emotions. It looks like you have a wonderful family! Best of luck to your son!
Sending love, hugs, and prayers!
I am sending you a huge hug to you and your husband. True life will be different but you will find life to be exactly how it should be. So glad you are close in location to your girls. Enjoy your new life adventure❤️
This was me just a few years ago! I still find it surreal to come home to no children. I’m happy and blessed they are close. I miss them still and love when the all come home even if just for a sunday afternoon.
The beauty and gratitude you see in this whole process is so inspiring! Thank you for sharing a glimpse of your life with us. Such a beautiful journey – even with the (much appropriate) bittersweet feelings. My oldest is 14 but Sometimes already feel the ache of letting him go, but I know when it’s time, I will be able to handle it and he will be ready to take on the world. Thank you for sharing!❤️
I’m not looking forward to this day. I’m the baby in my family and when I left my parents hand’t been alone in 34 years. No wonder my parents, especially my mom, were so sad.
I can remember feeling as though a piece of my heart went missing. Nothing is the same, and yet we wouldn’t want it any other way. It’s so good you’re allowing yourself time and space to feel it all. It may take a little while, but life somehow settles into a new and very comfortable rhythm. Thank you for sharing this personal season of change with us — what a beautiful post. And congratulations on this huge milestone! Wishing you, your hubby, and your son all the best!
Beautiful post! I sent my last one off to college two years ago, but the older siblings each took a year to live at home while they saved some $ (we offered and they accepted – so that was fun). My 23 year old son is leaving in a few weeks for CA (we live in OR) and our youngest son is back at school – so it will really hit me then. Check out the Facebook Group “Grown and Flown” which is for parents of late teens to early adults. There are some sweet conversations going on now with college drop offs.
Oh Melissa, we teach our children to be godly adults and then they must leave. I feel your bitter sweet tears. My son married this summer and he’s now living far far away but this is his season to love and most importantly, he is following God’s path for him. It is our season to cry, move closer to our husbands and adjust to our empty nest but God has sent His Comforter and I thank the dear Lord for His peace during this season of letting my son go too. Thank you for sharing your life with us and believe me, you have helped me more than you know. May the dear Lord bless you and keep looking up!
Best wishes to you and yours on this new step in your journey!
I am shedding a few tears now as I read this and it brings back all the memories of experiencing this exact same day and time. The tears and the feelings. Hugs to you as you experience this journey.
Your first picture says it all!! As a mom of 5, with a span of 14 1/2 years from oldest to youngest, letting them go never gets easier! And if you’ve been blessed to raise wonderful kids who’ve grown into wonderful young adults, you not only love them but really like them. You miss them terribly! It’s a hard dichotomy, happiness for them but sadness for your own loss. There are no books on parenting that adequately prepare you for this stage. My best advise, wear sunglasses ( to hide the tears) when you say goodbye!?
But while your world will get smaller and quieter for now, down the road the future is brighter than you can ever imagine. We now have 11 grand babies that fill our hearts and our home! ???
I’ve been retired for 10 years and will soon be moving to another city to be close to my two children and grandchildren. We have lived in 3 separate locations for many, many years and its time in our journey to come together again. My son has moved back to our original location also, so now we will all be close by once again. It’s late in my life, but everyone has had their own life to live – as it should be.
Tears are always a part of life, but we are so fortunate when they are for the reason you are experiencing them and I have experienced them also – gratitude for having the privilege of raising kind, loving and productive children – just what this often harsh world needs.
I do have a question – do you still have your church?
Terry said it well…Grand babies! Now that is something to look forward to! If not, new family members to add to your lovely home soon. One door closes and another door opens. I think its a wonderful blessing that your daughters work with you on your blog and are around to shop/decorate/talk to. Blessing indeed:0)
It is a big day for all involved. Congratulations and all the best for your son’s future and that which will be coming to the empty nesters.
Melissa, thanks so much for sharing your life – your family with us. I started out crying from the first picture – then laughing at such a sweet little boy just being a boy! – then crying again! And I’ve never even met Luke, but I feel like I know your family – because you’ve shared so much, thanks again. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you during this new season. What a blessing to have your beautiful girls near by! (Love the photos of them kissing their little brother!)
Oh Melissa, this is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing this with us. Prayers for you and your husband and Luke. ??? your commitment to making a home that will always be a place they are welcome is so inspiring to me.
What a wonderful story of your family, home and life growing and changing!
Yes, parenting is so not for the faint of heart. Who knew?
Sending hugs and prayers for the entire family!
Such bittersweet feelings! I’ve been there.
It’s always hard when kids first leave the home, but you can look forward to holidays and whatever other time you will get to share with him. He’ll have lots to share with you and your husband. Be blessed.
You made me tear up for I have sent two off to college and in two short years our third and last will start on the same journey that her brothers have made. Sending hugs your way for I know that it’s bittersweet.
Such true feelings of sadness and joy , pride and a tinge of worry all together . Mine went off to New York City and eight years later is still there and thriving . Today will be hard but it gets better because it changes not in spite of it ❤️
Melissa, I feel you. My son started at university in February (we live in New Zealand so our school starts then). It’s hard but it does give you the opportunity to reflect and grow. Enjoy watching him grow into the man he is destined to be and enjoy your time alone with your husband.
He’s gonna be just fine. You, on the other hand, are going to be a nervous wreck. He will thrive just as his siblings did. You’ve taught him all you can. Now, it’s his turn to fly. So smile and know that all us other moms understand what you are feeling as we smile with you, cry with you and pray with you for him to be safe.
Best wishes to you and your family as you start this new chapter.
I understand. When I started following you about 7years ago I had a 13 year old at home. Even though you know the day will come, it brings so many tears. I know you will be fine.
On a lighter note, being an empty nester myself, I’m just glad I still like my husband. Sending hugs to you Melissa. Definitely a bittersweet time for you.
It is really hard to let the last one go and the house is so quiet and lonely at times but college goes fast and they often have so much to tell you about when they visit home. Hang in there it gets easier with time.
Your words brought tears to my eyes. Our children grow up so fast. You have a beautiful family!
Thank you for sharing. Your family is beautiful!
I can’t imagine the feelings that go along with seeing your children off to college and the world! I am sure lots of tears but also tears of happiness :). Enjoy this time watching your kids continue to grow and take some time for yourself!
Sending you hugs and prayers. I thought dropping my first son at college and my baby son at high school in August was hard. My middle son is a junior so I’m already thinking about life with him gone. I still cry sometimes, but it proves we did right by our kids and prepared them to leave our nest. I can’t imagine how I will feel when the last one leaves.
Well you’re making me cry and my sweet little boy is only five, so I have a long way to go before empty nest!
Oh how hard the empty nest was for me! Especially since we were missionaries in Haiti, and leaving each of our kids in the States while we flew back to Haiti was toture for my heart. But God heals the sadness and created a new season full of growth and blessings.
The handbook never mentioned that letting go was a part of every transition and proud moment!
That’s a lot of change for your family! Good luck to him and to the rest of you as you adjust to new things.
The tears welled up in my eyes and I refuse to let them fall. Because I know that time will fly and in 7 years my youngest will be leaving. Wow, the time that flies with the most wonderful memories. I pray that God carries you both through this with love and strength.
Ah crap, I have tears streaming down my face for you as I read this post. I GET it. Been there, done that – it is a huge deal. You let yourself feel those feelings. Then plan something special for just the two of you – something splugy and fun and just as you started: just you two.
Hugs.
Thank you Michele!! We have been thinking the same thing, I think this is going to be a wonderful season for us even though it’s a big change! Thank you for your kind words, it truly helps to be surrounded by mamas who have been there! And it’s wonderful to have young mamas here that I feel I can encourage, too….I think all us moms have something to offer others in every season of life. xo
We left ours in Europe 2 weeks ago to start a gap year – travel & study for the fall, and language immersion beginning in January. These transition times are something else. I’ve tackled almost every closet and drawer that I can get my hands on & the basement is next… I have this unsettled feeling that might be described as reverse nesting. I have to keep reminding myself that we’ve filled the toolbox – now it’s time for her to use it.
I can see how this transition and season ending can spark a reverse nesting phase. I went on a little spree like that myself today! It felt good, like I have earned this season to let some things go. I love your analogy of the toolbox!! Thank you for stopping by!
That as beautiful! Big hugs! ? Wishing all the good things this new season of life has to offer!
I can’t even imagine having to send my kids off. Not ready for that yet!!