On one of the fun experiences that the kids and I did on my
last trip back to visit them was to Woodfield mall. Portillos had an open store there that was a “Portillos
Experience” You could scratch and sniff
the walls. They had couches that looked
like hot dogs. They had a ‘fry room’
with fun props. Then an area that had
big props to pose with while doing selfies or having your photo taken. It ended up being a lot more fun than I
thought at first and the kids, even Joe, ended up enjoying themselves. I mean, who doesn’t want to swing on an onion
ring in outer space?
Spending time with my kids, it’s my favorite thing. Especially, when their teenage bickering and
general exasperated attitude is kept at bay.
I love hearing their stories about friends or goings on at school. Or trying to help them with questions they
could have about life in general. I like
learning about their new interests, or style choices, or pop figures they’ve
acquired. I just want to be with them so
much, so badly. Being away while taking
care of Mom has been bittersweet. I
cherish the time I’ve had with Mom. I
love that I was able to help her so she wasn’t alone, especially without Dad
here. Being away from my children,
though, has been a real eye opener to what will be happening so soon. When they leave for college and then their lives
after, it is really going to sting. I’m
sure that once I’m an empty-nester, things will take awhile to adjust and I’ll
settle into that life, hopefully. That
time seems to be encroaching, though, much too quickly. I just want to be with my kids, now. I’m working on that.
December 2019
