Cindy Swanson
1/14/03
I'm sad! My baby boy went back to college yesterday.
I had so enjoyed having Justin home for an extended period of time. When one or both of the boys arrives home from Ohio,it's like a gust of fresh air has blown in! Justin is so naturally funny and fun to be around.
Doug would have liked Justin to try to work for the few weeks he was at home. Lord knows,he could have used the money. But somehow it never panned out,and I would come home from work each day to be greeted by my very lovable,very lazy 19-year-old. I didn't mind a bit.
He spent most of the time watching TV or video's which he checked out from the library. And he ate...quite a bit. Each time one or both of the boys come home,I'm jolted by how quickly the groceries get eaten up! Apparently just the three of us...Doug,Elizabeth and me...really don't eat that much. I'm able to make things last quite a while. Not so with Justin home...it seems a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk would vanish in no time.
Things were messier,too. While watching one of his video's,a little mess would spring up around Justin. Glasses,dishes,cups,wrappers. Oh,he'd clean them up when I asked him to...but there's no doubt the TV room was a good deal more of a mess than usual. And there were quite a few more dirty clothes to wash than usual.
Again...I didn't mind a bit. I just relished having him home. I knew that,essentially,he's not really a lazy slug. Justin felt like he was getting a well-deserved break from his studies and break-neck pace at college,and I was more than happy to spoil him for a few weeks.
I already miss him...his hearty laugh,his rough-housing with his little sister,his calmness in the face of any of my little crises,his chauffeuring me everywhere (because when Justin is home, I always let him do the driving.)
I never thought I would suffer the pangs of "empty nest syndrome." When the boys were little,and driving me up a wall with their constant loud fighting,competitiveness and wildness,I'd think longingly of the days when the house would be quiet and serene. Well,much of the time now,it's just a little TOO quiet and serene. I can see the day in the not-too-distant future when they'll all be out of the house. And you know what? I'll miss them,as I already miss Jonathan and Justin. And I'll be joyful when they come home...dirty laundry,big appetites and all! :)
