My Storyby Robyn We have four children. Two are married, ages twenty-one and twenty-three. The other two, twin girls ,are eighteen and are going to college this fall. The difficult part of pre-empty nesting is the letting go and making that transition from constantly giving advice to letting your children go and experience the college and independent world. My first response is to protect them from every fall and knick. One of my twins said to me this weekend, when I leaned over to give her a kiss on the head, "You kiss me too much." So I proceeded and said that "instead of a kiss, do you want me to punch you on the arm and say goodbye?" She replied with, "That would be better." She often uses the word "smother" in her language when she talks about her relationship with us. So letting go and refraining from lots of hugs and kisses, going to barely any kisses, just a wave and a "have a good day", is very tough (especially with your last ones going out the door). As a mother, it’s so difficult. I have to fight those feelings of wanting to grab on so tightly and also the feeling of being lost without those kisses and hugs every day. When I pray, I ask God to help me with this and also to help our girls make wise choices as they go out in the world on their own. We have two grandchildren already and two more on the way, so I know our future is full of lots of "new" excitement with our grandchildren, and I am so thankful. (God knows how much I love kids!!) Thank you! God Bless.
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