Being Home

I still vividly recall the summer after my senior year of high school; it remains one of my top five favorite summers to this day. I would work my job in the mornings, quickly change clothes at home, and then head out to spend time with my friends, living our best lives. We were always out and about - the summer was filled with pools and bonfires and driving around, always together as a group.

I can distinctly remember my mom saying that she missed seeing me around the house. I thought she was being ridiculous because I was still living at home and I would be going to college about 2 miles away from our house.

Fast forward to present day, and I now have a son who is experiencing his own version of the summer after his senior year. He is working full-time, hanging out with friends every night, and embarking on various trips and adventures. He is determined to make the most of every moment.

And I miss him.

Which I can admit, sort of sounds ridiculous, since he still living at home and will be going to college 2 miles away, just like his mama did.

But my mom was right and I understand that now. Being home and *being home* are two very different things.

It’s a strange mix when your entire soul is so happy to see your child out and happy and living their life, but it’s also a little bit sad that 18 years has flown by and the next phase of their life is on the horizon and the whole world is about to change. In a few short years, he will move out, venturing into the next significant phase of his life. It feels like just yesterday that I was in his shoes.

During moments when my heart feels a bit heavy, especially after seeing him for just an hour in the past couple of days, I reflect on the pure happiness I experienced that summer after senior year. It was a time when you straddle the line between adolescence and adulthood, juggling responsibilities that, although present, are not burdensome. Those days were spent cherishing every precious moment with the friends you've grown to love, knowing that, as everyone scatters to their respective colleges, some of those friendships may only exist in memories of the best summer ever.

That one unforgettable, carefree summer, etched in your memory forever.