Not that I hope your kids are living with you in their middle age, but I am currently living with my mom and watching “The Sopranos” together. (She never watched it.) We never watched TV together until after I moved home the first time, after college. (It was “Law & Order” then.) It’s weirdly comforting to still be able to do this, despite all the financial instability that is the cause of me still living at home now, after years not.
I love your writing. Of course I enjoy your novels, especially the coming of age or family dynamics or women in the male gaze, etc.. but oof your essays and personal pieces; always erudite, immensely readable, and wise. Thank you.
I totally understand! My daughter is 18 and my son is 16. Time sure goes by quickly and it is really sad, but wonderful they are growing up. Your blog sums it up with Doctor Who which is true! Time is the Doctor's greatest villain.
My 3 girls are grown and on their own now but we watched TV together - starting with Gilmore Girls, Sex and the City, Felicity, Dr. Who,Jeopardy. Now we watch some shows that we all love and discuss them Somebody Feed Phil, The Irrationals, Kominsky Method. It keeps us connected in a way we know and have fun with.
I truly understand your post! I am in the "death-clean" mode now! I raised two girls, got a divorce, retired after 40 years, I volunteer to keep busy, go out with friends. I turned 80 last year, thinking about not leaving a bunch of "stuff" my oldest daughter will definitely not want (my youngest died at age 54 of lung cancer). I have 8 grandkids, but what would they want? Old family photos, some good jewelry, my drawings, a couple of antiques? I just don't want to burden my daugher with too much stuff she won't want. I have to look at life with a sense of humor and know I'm probably in my final years. So why not clean stuff out!! (smile)
I have seen Doctor Who, but I know exactly how you feel. One year left with my youngest. I’d cry all the time if they weren’t so damn excited to go out in the world without us.
Didn’t realize you were writing this, at first, then I saw your sweet girls at a young age and thought… I know them (from following along for the last 25 years!) Mine are 15 & 19. Feeling this so hard. Also, now I need to watch all the Dr. Whos 😆
My mom had the roots & wings quote framed on our wall growing up. It's always resonated with me and is in the back of my mind as I raise my own two. Fran was a wise woman.
Beautiful! I know the feeling. Our daughter moved to Brooklyn, a thousand miles away, a few years ago. It’s fun to visit her but man it’s tough to have her so far away. Thank goodness for cell phones and FaceTime!
Not that I hope your kids are living with you in their middle age, but I am currently living with my mom and watching “The Sopranos” together. (She never watched it.) We never watched TV together until after I moved home the first time, after college. (It was “Law & Order” then.) It’s weirdly comforting to still be able to do this, despite all the financial instability that is the cause of me still living at home now, after years not.
I love your writing. Of course I enjoy your novels, especially the coming of age or family dynamics or women in the male gaze, etc.. but oof your essays and personal pieces; always erudite, immensely readable, and wise. Thank you.
Beautifully written. Can’t stop crying 😢
I totally understand! My daughter is 18 and my son is 16. Time sure goes by quickly and it is really sad, but wonderful they are growing up. Your blog sums it up with Doctor Who which is true! Time is the Doctor's greatest villain.
I love that you are a Whovian!
My 3 girls are grown and on their own now but we watched TV together - starting with Gilmore Girls, Sex and the City, Felicity, Dr. Who,Jeopardy. Now we watch some shows that we all love and discuss them Somebody Feed Phil, The Irrationals, Kominsky Method. It keeps us connected in a way we know and have fun with.
My daughter and I still do this when she is home from school (she is 20 now) and we are also watching Grey’s long distance. I love it.
I truly understand your post! I am in the "death-clean" mode now! I raised two girls, got a divorce, retired after 40 years, I volunteer to keep busy, go out with friends. I turned 80 last year, thinking about not leaving a bunch of "stuff" my oldest daughter will definitely not want (my youngest died at age 54 of lung cancer). I have 8 grandkids, but what would they want? Old family photos, some good jewelry, my drawings, a couple of antiques? I just don't want to burden my daugher with too much stuff she won't want. I have to look at life with a sense of humor and know I'm probably in my final years. So why not clean stuff out!! (smile)
I have seen Doctor Who, but I know exactly how you feel. One year left with my youngest. I’d cry all the time if they weren’t so damn excited to go out in the world without us.
Didn’t realize you were writing this, at first, then I saw your sweet girls at a young age and thought… I know them (from following along for the last 25 years!) Mine are 15 & 19. Feeling this so hard. Also, now I need to watch all the Dr. Whos 😆
I know this is how it should be, but man these goodbyes aren't easy.
Same, girl. Same! And knowing that they are smarter and funnier than you makes it even more bittersweet.
My mom had the roots & wings quote framed on our wall growing up. It's always resonated with me and is in the back of my mind as I raise my own two. Fran was a wise woman.
Everything about this! So true.
Beautiful! I know the feeling. Our daughter moved to Brooklyn, a thousand miles away, a few years ago. It’s fun to visit her but man it’s tough to have her so far away. Thank goodness for cell phones and FaceTime!
PS - now I might have to watch Doctor Who
Lovely piece. I'm happy my sons are off and happy, but I miss them terribly. I have to stop myself from constantly pestering them.
Your mother was a wise woman.