Feeling lost in your empty nest? Learn More

Midlife Melody

Soulful simplicity for the midlife mess

You are here: Home / Parenting Teens / Walking in the Mist: A Back to School Memory

Walking in the Mist: A Back to School Memory

I’m hoping this blesses the mamas with chicks flying the coop or headed back to school.  I wrote this years ago when we lived in Germany and my oldest was teetering on the edge of our nest.

[spacer height=”20px”]

I’m loving the sunshine that recent days have gifted me. 

[spacer height=”20px”]
This morning I took the doggie out for our morning wandering and was caught breathless at the cloud I found nestled on the horizon. If you’ve seen the movie Pride and Prejudice, did you take note of the landscape during the ‘turning point scene’ as Mr. Darcy walked toward Elizabeth in the foggy mist? 
[spacer height=”20px”]
Mornings here in Germany often appear similarly.  Actually, I’ve seen the mist fall at all times of the day in the rolling hills I meander.  A cloud of sorts will just settle, somewhere. 
[spacer height=”20px”]
This morning I was captivated.  The sun hurried to burn it off, but not before I could snap a shot or two.  Interestingly, behind me, the way was perfectly clear.
[spacer height=”20px”]
The misty fog seems to have settled over our family as well.  Not exactly sure what the future looks like.  We are at a crossroads of sorts. The view is a little cloudy. 
[spacer height=”20px”]
I spent the morning with the oldest  – calming nerves.  Reassuring.  
[spacer height=”20px”]
Career choices.  College choices.  Anxiety as she ventures back to school.
[spacer height=”20px”]
Her high school senior year uncovers fears that have masked themselves for 17 years. 
[spacer height=”20px”]

The future is just right there. 

[spacer height=”20px”]
Close enough to touch, yet vague and unclear.  She knows a direction she’d like to travel, somewhat.  We look at the classes she needs to wrap up her education under my tutelage.  
[spacer height=”20px”]
Can it be?
[spacer height=”20px”]
I’ve got her here for only one more year.  Safe, under my big old wingspan. 
[spacer height=”20px”]

Isn’t every parent walking a tightrope of sorts? Pulling the babies along, cheering them on. Feeling our way through the mist, unsure ourselves of where we’re going?

[spacer height=”20px”]
The homeschool mamas, especially, fight the insecurities telling us we can’t do this.  We can’t…………..alone.  
[spacer height=”20px”]
But we hold on tight to the One who’s leading us through the cloudy daze days.  All we can see is what’s directly in front of us. 
[spacer height=”20px”]

We trust His gentle voice to lead us both in the mist.  [spacer height=”20px”]

But isn’t this where we’re supposed to live?  Must we really see so far ahead? Shouldn’t we be in the only moment that’s ours?  Right here. Right now?

[spacer height=”20px”]

 

[spacer height=”20px”]So I teach her how to inch her way from the now to the tomorrow. [spacer height=”20px”]

All I can do as the mama is teach her how to walk.[spacer height=”20px”]

I teach her who’s hand to hold when it’s not mine. [spacer height=”20px”]

Especially in the mist.[spacer height=”20px”]

As I blindly feel my way along, I’m holding onto HIM, and as I do, I’m dragging her behind.   Especially when the way’s cloudy.

[spacer height=”20px”]

The job of raising kids is to slowly edge me out of the chain. 

[spacer height=”20px”]

The mama needs to make sure the girl child is holding onto Jesus to take her through the mist.  With both hands.[spacer height=”20px”]

The future is ALWAYS unclear.[spacer height=”20px”]

Remember, perfect vision only comes as we look behind!  Circumstances change. Disappointments come uninvited. Tragedies strike. Uncertainties abound.

[spacer height=”20px”]
My own eyes mist thinking about my limited time.  Does she know all she should? Seventeen years dissipate.
[spacer height=”20px”]

She learns endless ways of manipulating letters and numbers and concepts, but what she really needs to know is how to walk.

 

you might dig these too:
A "Basic" Christmas
The Only Lessons That Matter
Raising the Boy
How to Create a Beautiful Marriage by Way of a Beautiful Wedding

welcome to midlife melody

so happy to meet you

Hey there! I'm Della - or Della Jane if you were raised in East Texas. Welcome to my perfectly imperfect world of middle age. I spend my days navigating a life in the middle of grown and 'nearly grown' offspring, aging parents, and crazy dogs. A lot of days I feel squeezed between them all. Did I mention that I'm in the middle of a roller coaster ride called menopause? All the while I'm hanging on to Jesus, in awe of His faithfulness. Life is messy, my friend. But there is always joy to be found, we just might have to dig a little to find it. I'm so glad you're here.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Olson Family says

    Oh my. Your writing has taken my breath away. This task of parenting our children, of "Feeling our way through the mist, unsure ourselves of where we're going?" This privilege and responsibility of teaching them "how to walk" and how to take His hand… You've captured the intensity of unprecedented emotions with eloquence and grace.

    Thank you.

    Reply

  2. Ann Kroeker says

    We're on the same schedule on different continents…my daughters are close to that big shift toward whatever is next.

    Thank you for beautifully capturing the feelings and pointing out the critical role we play in the years (or is it months?) they remain directly under our care and tutelage.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Won’t you join us?

Your freebies are waiting! Subscribe today!

Instagram

midlifemelody

Soulful simplicity for the midlife mess.

Della
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins