The Best Nest

This weekend I didn’t write. I let my mind and emotions adjust to my youngest moving away to college. So many worries on my mind – will he like it; will he manage to get along with his roommate (who is admittedly his best friend, but they have never lived together before); does he have everything he needs for every eventuality (the answer was no, I forgot OFF and he being an O-negative, red-head was a delicious meal for mosquitos thirsty for new blood); will he still need me; will anyone still need me; who am I without being a mom?

Admittedly, these are too many questions to answer in a 48-hour period and some might signal an existential crisis lol. But we handled it okay and the thing I was worried about the most – will I still be a mom – will they still need me? The answer was a resounding yes. My youngest has texted me each day, eager to tell me about college life. My daughter texted me from work today, because she needed a breather and someone to commiserate with. They still need me – they still want to talk to me and that makes my mother’s heart happy.

We have had a lot of people ask – how does it feel to be empty nesters? We’re aren’t – not yet. Our daughter is back home after graduating from college while she finds her dream job and to save money. Our son is still living between here and college. Our nest is not empty just changing. My hope is that it will never be truly empty. Our home, wherever that forever home winds up being, will always have empty bedrooms for whomever needs to stay – our kids, their friends, our family, our friends. Our door has always been and will remain open.

I am reminded of a Dr. Suess book from when I was little, and one I read to my kids too. The book was called The Best Nest. Mr. Bird discovers he doesn’t need the fanciest or the nicest nest, because the best nest was the one where his family and his heart was: “Mr. Bird was happy. He was so happy he had to sing. This was Mr. Bird’s song: ‘I love my house. I love my nest. In all the world my nest is best!’ ”