One More Ordinary Day
The gift we found in a day that didn't go as planned.
It’s funny how things can creep up on you, even when you know they’re coming, and still knock the wind out of you.
May 31st had been on the calendar for several months as the date that we would move Ethan to Boston for a chunk of the summer. And to be honest, it was a date I was looking forward to with pride. He had set a goal for himself and gotten it done. A paid internship in Boston — a perfect opportunity to return to the city where he was born and see if it is where he might want to live post-graduation.
I wasn’t really thinking of the Boston summer as much of a milestone until Brian kept telling people that this was the first time that Ethan would be living on his own. And while I knew it, it gave a different heaviness to it when I thought of it that way.
But the day came, and we were prepared and planned. Staying in a hotel so he’d be ready for work at 8:00 AM on June 1st, and Brian and I would be ready to move him into his apartment. But life has a way of reminding you that you can plan all you want and still have things outside your control. Without getting into all the details, we learned of an HR snafu at 6:45 AM that prevented work from starting that morning, and there were some cleaning issues at the apartment that prevented move-in from happening.
But in the middle of the chaos, we gained a gift. One more ordinary day together. Just the three of us.
And for someone who always has a plan, I didn’t. And it was perfect. We had lunch, we had ice cream, we grocery shopped, walked around his new neighborhood, and laughed about the turn of events. Looking back, I think we were all grateful for the day.
Because soon enough, things worked out. On Tuesday, we moved him in and got him settled. And then we left. It was a harder goodbye than I expected. At least for me. And I’m not embarrassed by it. In fact, I’m grateful that I have such big love that these moments make me sad and reflective, but also happy. The tears are just as much tears of pride and joy as they are of sadness.
You spend years helping them become independent, and then one day they are. And somehow, even when it’s exactly what you hoped for, it still brings tears to the surface and a catch to your throat.
Enjoy the moments — the big milestones and the bonus days.
XO
Heather