going off to school

Mothers everywhere are sending their precious kids off to school. For some, their 'babies' are leaving home for the first time and venturing out into the world. I've read blog after blog where young mothers are wearing their emotions on their sleeves (so to speak) and experiencing this ritual with resistance and tears. It's the 'circle of life' and it goes on year after year - decade after decade with the same reaction that reduces grown women, who endured twenty hours of hard labor, into a puddle on the floor! It's called 'going off to school'.

Personally, I relate to what mothers everywhere are going through - I sent seven of our own kids into the world of kindergarten and SEVEN times I too was reduced to a 'puddle' of worthless mush! I KNOW!

Recently a flurry of activity has been going on in this tree in front of our house (the reddish colored one). A family of birds resides here and the chirping has been relentless. I thought it odd that birds would be hatching eggs in August but it was happening and the parents were scurrying around for worms and water to feed their rapidly growing chicks. Then, I noticed how all this was going on right beside Griffin's travel bus!


The branches swag down touching the bus and I noticed how the tree was filled with berries (double click for a closer look). I began to realize there was some significance here for me - something to learn. It seems less than a month ago, these bird-parents hatched their chicks and now, as I was watching closely in the yard, they were being . . . .

taught to fly and leave the nest! Look at this adorable chick sitting on the tree branch! He's a little goofy and . . .

awkward and a little frazzled . . .

but willing to take the risk! Time and time again these little guys fluttered their wings - testing them out - taking off, sometimes successful and sometimes not! After a short time, they were leaving home and on their own!

While young mothers are sending their young ones off to their first day of school, two mothers face a similar situation. Tomorrow my youngest kiddo and Kathy's only girl are leaving 'the nest' and heading south into the world (Hollywood) and I once again am reduced to a 'puddle of mush'. The 'bird-thing' outside my window was there to teach and REMIND me that I need to let go, be brave and let the "magic happen". We're more fortunate than the animal kingdom as we're able to bond and love and snuggle and teach our children much longer than they are given. For that I am thankful. But for now, pass the Kleenex!