Eighteen Years and Forever, emptying of the nest Options

[Orion]

Seems like yesterday -
you lifted little hands in
fields of swayin’-in-winds flowers;
you danced and frolicked -
skipping,
laughing,
running
toward me.
Our opened arms entwined.

Now is a new season,
a time you lift your hand
in goodbyes.

Who says with a heart
this full, one should
hold back emotion,
restrain the tears?

Eighteen years and forever
of tender loving care,
in and out of seasons
of being there.

I will lift my hand, too,
and bring it down gently
upon this grateful heart
where the sweetest
memories live,

where there are no goodbyes,
where love may never end, never part,
where love will give and give and give.
My child, you are always in my heart.

[Peterpan]

Ooooh, this is such a lovely poem - from a parent, on behalf of all parents. It is beautifully written with such heartfelt feeling and love for a child. It is so hard to rear a child from the womb, and to wave them good bye on their way into this scary world. But, we do and we have to...

Thank you for sharing this heartwrenching poem. I will be back if I think it needs any other thoughts. Other wise, thank you, it reflects my sentiments exactly.

Well done.

PP

[Orion]

PP,

Your warm comments give a smile. I'm glad that you like this one. Should you see any places that need brushing up, please feel free to advise.

Appreciating your time & thoughts,
Jan

[Terocon101]

Hi Jan,

Nice gentle pace to this, gives me time to think about and absorb the lovely sentiment and love within.

Seems like yesterday -
you lifted little hands in
fields of swayin’-in-winds flowers; 'windswept' or just 'swaying' as wind would be implied. Nice image though!!
you danced and frolicked -hehe, frolicked...it's gotta be a girl.
skipping,
laughing,
running
toward me. These lines have good impact, the innocence and pure enjoyment of life then.
Our opened arms entwined.

Now is a new season, Maybe, an ellipsis and an edit thus " ...Now, a new season "
a time you lift your hand
in goodbyes. Maybe consider an adjective for goodbyes eg. "our first goodbyes" "in tearful goodbyes" "in brave goodbyes"

Who says with a heart
this full, one should
hold back emotion,
restrain the tears? Not me, I say let it out

Eighteen years and forever nice
of tender loving care,
in and out of seasons
of being there.

I will lift my hand, too,
and bring it down gently
upon this grateful heart
where the sweetest
memories live,

where there are no goodbyes,
where love may never end, never part,
where love will give and give and give.
My child, you are always in my heart.

Really nice Jan, I dont have kids, but this makes it sound almost appealing...but still quite torturous.

Talk to you soon!!!

[Orion]

Hello Terry,

Thank you for your feedback with this one. The descriptor for the flowers was on my list of questionable phrasing. Hmmm...."swaying wildflowers" (?) may even simplify the image even more. I'm still thinking about possibilities there.

Of course, without saying, this poem is dear to my heart and to these times of redefinition between seasons. Ah, what the heart can stand.

As always, your time is appreciated.
Jan

[Maggie]

Hi Jan,

It's from the heart, and it shows. Your pace matches your introspective and contemplative mood. Good job!! I like it!!

Peggy

[Orion]

Hi Jan,

It's from the heart, and it shows. Your pace matches your introspective and contemplative mood. Good job!! I like it!!

Peggy

Peggy,

Your thoughts are appreciated. It's 'a tugging time for the ol' heart' as we adjust to the new season's calling. It'll all work out okay as we learn to see from a brand new perspective. In parenting, we must cross bridges in time to get to the new levels of growth -- even watch the growing child cross these bridges as well. It's exciting, not always easy; yet attitudes can alter how awful or wonderful it is going through these stretching-of-the-heart times for parent and child.

Thanks so much for your feedback here.
Jan

[Peterpan]

PP,

Your warm comments give a smile. I'm glad that you like this one. Should you see any places that need brushing up, please feel free to advise.

Appreciating your time & thoughts,
Jan

My pleasure, Jan.

I will be back from time to time to peek what is happening.

Good luck in the meantime.

PP

[Orion]

Thank you, PP.

Everything is happening quickly now---my daughter has met her roommate through computer communication. (Isn't that an amazing possibility?) They've been talking & choosing colors for their dorm room & making various 'early plans' for their new abode. It's going to be a very busy month as we all adjust -- learning to fit all the plans within this 'family transition time' together as we move apart. (if that makes sense) I keep reminding myself to enjoy these moments as they are, indeed, special & memorable. Also, I need to keep my emotions intact, for these times certainly do pull on the emotional side of parenting.

Regards,
Jan

[Peterpan]

Hi Jan~

My children are 23 and 22 and my son, eldest, has not lived at home for a long time. It is hard, yes. But, that is what we do, grow them to independence and then when they are independent we dont want them to be!!!!!!!!!! At least my daughter is still at home. My son has been studying in Switzerland and now going to work in Tanzania.

Good luck with all the changes.

See you around for updates.

PP

[Orion]

Hi Jan~

My children are 23 and 22 and my son, eldest, has not lived at home for a long time. It is hard, yes. But, that is what we do, grow them to independence and then when they are independent we dont want them to be!!!!!!!!!! At least my daughter is still at home. My son has been studying in Switzerland and now going to work in Tanzania.

Good luck with all the changes.

See you around for updates.

PP

That's it----learning to cope with all the changes. We're adults watching our children stepping out of boundaries of what we have known with them through these passing seasons into redefined times, brand new seasons of understanding & knowing.

Thanks for stopping back by, PP.
A pleasure 'conversing' with you about this transitional time,
Jan

[Peterpan]

Hi Jan~

The world is a very small place. We are in different countries, hemispheres yet, our feelings, situations and dedications are the same.

I enjoyed getting to know a bit about you too.

Take care and set your fledgling free.

Bev

[Orion]

PP,

You know -

I am a bird-watcher. How I love to watch the process of the parent-birds helping those little ones along the way. It's a perfect example of how we must let go. I do say, too, that on 'flight day', my heart is full as I watch those little ones fly away in the vast skies. And then, there's the empty nest.

Ah...there's that Texas-sized lump in my throat again.
Nice to connect, worlds away even, with you on this common ground of the heart's lifesong.
It will all be okay.

Jan