Transition

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Just the other day, Autumn (the last one living at home) said, "Mom, I'd really like to help you finish the upstairs..."  Wow, what a sweetheart (I still haven't gone up there since Carl's move!)

Autumn still has her little room upstairs.  She painted and decorated it so lovely.  I want to use the same colors on the main floor, but she doesn't want me to copy.  As she kept talking, I found myself getting more excited about it.  She wants to start January 1st.  Sounds like a plan.

I've actually had ideas mulling around in my head for sometime.  This particular bedroom is really the master bedroom.  The twins, who are the oldest, shared that room from the day we moved in 23 years ago.  Then, it became Eric's for a time, and Rachel's before she married.  It is the only room we really haven't decorated except for the floral vinyl wallpaper we pasted over the old stuff.  It was nice for the time, but well, you know...it's been 23 years.

So, I want to strip and paint and pull up the rose colored carpet and replace with area rugs (who knows what lies beneath??)  Autumn says we should make it a guest / activity room.  I'm good with that.

But, then there's Carl and Eric's old room.  Probably a craft / sewing room - wouldn't the boys just love that!?  My craft and sewing stuff has been tucked away for almost as many years.  Time to get the gadgets out and see what projects are waiting to be finished and what needs to be started.  I have two sewing machines - time to see if I still know how to use one of them.

One would think that I'd be eager for this time.  With the older kids out of the house for some time now, it would seem we would be pushing the remaining two out the door and I would be tackling their old rooms with vigor.  Hardly.  Well, yes ... and...  no.

How does one really transition?  I'm glad it's a gradual thing.  Each child takes time to let go.  They're all so unique, aren't they?  Each departure is just as unique.  Each heart string is tightly woven together with mine.

Mom didn't tell me it would be like this.  But, then, I never thought to ask.