Congratulations ๐ At the airport now to fly home after dropping our first born at school literally across the country. Feeling good though. Hoping the would treats him right too ๐
Bonus! Thank you for the reminder of those days. In Cocoa Beach right now watching my gorgeous daughter's babies (11, 9, 7) so she can attend a class for her job. The love never ends, it just grows legs. Thanks for sharing your life Jenna. Appreciate it lots.
Oof is right. Except I have two young menโ18 and 21โwho donโt gently crack their way out of childhood into adulthood to take great flight. Imagine two bulls encased in delicate robin shells. Everything is big and brazen and loud and occasionally dangerous and always messy and they no longer listen to me. I mean barely. And yes thereโs so much to teach them and the books Iโve given them (Joe Dispenza and Jordan Peterson) have hardly a dog ear so self help is out of the question. Iโve offered gentle plant medicine so they may find their heart and unity but alasโitโs individuation time. My words are โboysโbe gentle with yourself. Itโs an insane world and youโre gonna need you so love yourself up.โ โบ๏ธ
I feel this comment so much. Boys frontal lobe development lags behind the girls. I see it in my practice and with my boys. Somehow husband's was pretty well developed when I met him (I was 30, he was 24)...but he is a first born.
Thanks for saying that. Cool coincidenceโMy husband was 30 when we met I was 33! And yet I noticed the age difference for at least the first ten years. Crazy!! You got lucky.
My second oldest married last year at the age of 24, living in MD (we are in MA).
My third and last just married at the age of 22 a few months ago. Living in TX.
My oldest, age 27, is thankful near us for now, getting his PhD.
I think we did it right. They've made excellent choices, especially in spouses, any they are amazing human beings to be around. And my husband and I are reaping the rewards with quiet peace.
When the oldest son left, he seemed ready. There were no tears, because I have trouble crying. But I rescued a dog about a month later. Youngest leaves next week and we will feel that one more. Oldest is introvert semi genius thinker, while youngest is loud inappropriate jokester. It is unclear that either young man is college material, which is fine. They have a backup plan.
Empty nesters we are not however. MIL lives in my basement.
Your very first sentence: if you do it right, they leave you. Omg first year at Loyola (literally 20 minutes from our house), I completely broke down, sobbing. Felt like a bad breakup. I said what did I do wrong? He's not even sad to go. I miss him and it's only minutes. My husband said what you said, that if you did everything right, they leave you. You prepared him for this day, and he is more than ready.
I'm still crying. Each new school. New degree. ๐๐ป
I have two married daughters, each in Texas. Yanked them out of the Fort Worth ISD and enrolled them in private school. Both left Texas for private colleges. One in Louisiana and the other in Florida. Each eventually returned to Texas, found the right guy , married and settled down. Equally proud of each.
Flash back to my college selection and a conversation with my Dad. Get as far away from home as possible. You will mature more quickly.
Home was Irvington on the Hudson,NY. I headed to a private university in the then segregated South located in Durham NC. Not much of a melting pot but a way of life distinctly different than the NYC metropolitan area in the 1950's and early 60's.
Good parents are vital to ones success and independence. You appear to have done it correctly.
I love all of it! I love that you're a good mum and given the ladies a solid structure to build on.
It's quite obvious that you have wonderful relationship with your girls.. Yes, you indeed are the "shrimp," but i would never under estimate your power or influence.
This put a huge smile on my face after a long day of travel!. Thanks, Jenna.
Donโt worry they always come back in some form or another โ we are babysitting our daughterโs 11 month old daughter for the first time overnight! We babysat her many times before but not overnight. Wish us luck!
Great job, Mom! I know exactly how you feel. You'll feel better in a while. Sweet photos too. Laughed at the shrimp comment. Same here.
Congratulations ๐ At the airport now to fly home after dropping our first born at school literally across the country. Feeling good though. Hoping the would treats him right too ๐
๐๐๐
Bonus! Thank you for the reminder of those days. In Cocoa Beach right now watching my gorgeous daughter's babies (11, 9, 7) so she can attend a class for her job. The love never ends, it just grows legs. Thanks for sharing your life Jenna. Appreciate it lots.
๐๐ฉท
Oof is right. Except I have two young menโ18 and 21โwho donโt gently crack their way out of childhood into adulthood to take great flight. Imagine two bulls encased in delicate robin shells. Everything is big and brazen and loud and occasionally dangerous and always messy and they no longer listen to me. I mean barely. And yes thereโs so much to teach them and the books Iโve given them (Joe Dispenza and Jordan Peterson) have hardly a dog ear so self help is out of the question. Iโve offered gentle plant medicine so they may find their heart and unity but alasโitโs individuation time. My words are โboysโbe gentle with yourself. Itโs an insane world and youโre gonna need you so love yourself up.โ โบ๏ธ
Ps. What gorgeous daughters (and family)you have. Hmm. Pure bloods. lol.
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I feel this comment so much. Boys frontal lobe development lags behind the girls. I see it in my practice and with my boys. Somehow husband's was pretty well developed when I met him (I was 30, he was 24)...but he is a first born.
Thanks for saying that. Cool coincidenceโMy husband was 30 when we met I was 33! And yet I noticed the age difference for at least the first ten years. Crazy!! You got lucky.
I was also VERY immature LOL
Haha. That works.
My second oldest married last year at the age of 24, living in MD (we are in MA).
My third and last just married at the age of 22 a few months ago. Living in TX.
My oldest, age 27, is thankful near us for now, getting his PhD.
I think we did it right. They've made excellent choices, especially in spouses, any they are amazing human beings to be around. And my husband and I are reaping the rewards with quiet peace.
It's a heart tug, for sure.
But with joy and gratitude
๐๐ฉท
Great job mom!
When the oldest son left, he seemed ready. There were no tears, because I have trouble crying. But I rescued a dog about a month later. Youngest leaves next week and we will feel that one more. Oldest is introvert semi genius thinker, while youngest is loud inappropriate jokester. It is unclear that either young man is college material, which is fine. They have a backup plan.
Empty nesters we are not however. MIL lives in my basement.
your boys would get along with mine, Molly ;) ;)
Congratulations!!! And beautiful family, best always ๐ค๐ฅโค๏ธ
one day you will look back... and know this WAS authentic and appropriate.
I have had the two weddings in a matter of three years? and then it is shortly after, Grammaville.
It happens just as fast as... how this week just flew by.
Best wishes to your girls. They are beautiful just like you. You have a lovely family.
Youโre too kind ๐ฅน๐ฉท
Your very first sentence: if you do it right, they leave you. Omg first year at Loyola (literally 20 minutes from our house), I completely broke down, sobbing. Felt like a bad breakup. I said what did I do wrong? He's not even sad to go. I miss him and it's only minutes. My husband said what you said, that if you did everything right, they leave you. You prepared him for this day, and he is more than ready.
I'm still crying. Each new school. New degree. ๐๐ป
Itโs the hardest job in the world๐ฅน
And I was too chicken to take motherhood on.
But no guilt. No regrets. Just gratitude for where God has led me.
Your family is beautiful Jenna. You are profoundly blessed.
Youโre too kind and I am indeed ๐๐ฉท
The word maudlin did not come to my mind once while reading this lovely post, Jenna. Love that your family is close-knit.
Very nice, Jenna.
I have two married daughters, each in Texas. Yanked them out of the Fort Worth ISD and enrolled them in private school. Both left Texas for private colleges. One in Louisiana and the other in Florida. Each eventually returned to Texas, found the right guy , married and settled down. Equally proud of each.
Flash back to my college selection and a conversation with my Dad. Get as far away from home as possible. You will mature more quickly.
Home was Irvington on the Hudson,NY. I headed to a private university in the then segregated South located in Durham NC. Not much of a melting pot but a way of life distinctly different than the NYC metropolitan area in the 1950's and early 60's.
Good parents are vital to ones success and independence. You appear to have done it correctly.
๐ฅน
Love the pics ๐ !!
Congrats! Congrats! Congrats!
Time to fly!
I love all of it! I love that you're a good mum and given the ladies a solid structure to build on.
It's quite obvious that you have wonderful relationship with your girls.. Yes, you indeed are the "shrimp," but i would never under estimate your power or influence.
This put a huge smile on my face after a long day of travel!. Thanks, Jenna.
Would it be weird if I framed this comment?๐๐ฉท๐
Go for it, girl. You inspire me.
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Did you catch the horrible grammar error. I am horrified and please correct!
I did not actually ๐๐ฉท
I am now beyond fecking tired. ๐
Donโt worry they always come back in some form or another โ we are babysitting our daughterโs 11 month old daughter for the first time overnight! We babysat her many times before but not overnight. Wish us luck!
Aweeeee GOOD LUCK and LUCKY YOU!!! โบ๏ธ๐ฉท๐ช
Jenna you made me cry. My personal image - seeing Athena off on a plane to California 10 days after high school graduation.
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