The Empty Nest… #RRBC’s October-Ween Book, Blog & Trailer Block Party! @NonnieJules #Parents #Parenting #Kids

Hi, and welcome to the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB’S 2019 BOOK, BLOG & TRAILER Block Party!

Here’s what I’m giving away today and all you have to do for a chance to win is leave a COMMENT, LIKE the page and SHARE it on social media before you leave:

(1) $10 Amazon Gift Card – Winner:  JOY NWOSU LO-BAMIJOKO

(1) paperback signed copy of THE GOOD MOMMIES’ GUIDE TO RAISING (ALMOST) PERFECT DAUGHTERS

*EMPTY-NESTERS: 

parents whose children have reached adulthood and left home.

How many empty nesters do we have here today?  Well, I sadly pronounce that my hubby and I are now members of this class of parents – and, I must say, we are very reluctant participants of this group.

I can imagine that some of you were so very excited when your kids reached a certain age and moved away.  Many of you imagined your wonderful retirement years and had them planned out long before your kids were even teenagers.  And, there are those of you in this crowd today who couldn’t wait for the clock to strike midnight – you know, on their 18th birthday.  I must say, we are definitely not those parents.

No one gave us the memo that we’d have these babies, love them so fiercely, raise them to become amazing members of society and then one day…have to stand by and watch them fly the coop.  No – we missed that very important memo.  And, because someone at Parent Headquarters screwed up and forgot to clue us in on that part of our job – I demand a recall – I want my babies back home with me!

I’ve heard way too many parents spout the parent anthem:  “We raise them to grow up and become self-sufficient people so that they can take care of themselves.” No, we don’t – that’s not what I did – at least it’s not what I was intending to do.

I raised my babies to be strong, driven, talented, respectful, loving and caring young ladies – I didn’t raise them to grow up and leave me.  I guess I was putting in all of that hard work so that I could sit back and enjoy it – here, at home.

Seriously though, I’m not equipped to handle this new stage of my life and I don’t want to be.  This is the saddest time in my life and if it were up to me, they’d be upstairs in their bedrooms (which by the way, are just as they left them…never to be changed in case I win this war and somehow get them to come back home) yelling down for me to make their favorite breakfast.  Oh, yes, I miss that, too.

Just as God created us all so very differently, he didn’t make us any more alike as parents.  I always knew that I’d be “that” mom – the one who cried when her kids moved away – the one who still, today, bursts into tears at times while merely sitting at her desk, working.  I’m sad because I want them near me all the time.  And, although some of you moms may not share or even understand my grave feelings of sorrow, it doesn’t make me want to disguise my pain or pretend any less, that I’m feeling anything other than what I am.  Again, I don’t want to be part of this club.  I didn’t sign up for it and I just want to know, how do I get out of this horrible membership?

Daddy’s sad, too, although he’s handling it a lot better than I am.  But, that’s understandable..he didn’t grow those babies inside of him so even though they favor him more, it doesn’t make the bond that I share with them any less profound.

I ask again – any empty-nesters in the house today?  If so, I don’t want to hear that it’ll get easier as the days go by (if truth be told, I don’t want it to get easier), but, I would like to know how you’re handling your own transition, or how you did in the past when it was your turn.  And for those of you who don’t know it yet, trust me, we ALL have a turn and if yours hasn’t come around yet, thank your lucky stars. 

{FACT:  Mother birds will push their young out of the nest if they are defective, or when it is time for them to leave. … Sometimes a nest gets crowded and one of the nestlings gets accidentally knocked out by a nestmate. But it is unfortunately all too common for many baby birds to be pulled out of the nest by predators.}

Push them out?  I’m not “that” mom, either!  Empty-nesting = absolutely no fun at all.

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Friends, this was probably the very first book trailer I ever created (I’ve grown since then) and I need to re-do it to make it perfect, but, I’ve held off on doing it because I’m kind of attached to this one.  Stay tuned!

Thanks for dropping by today!

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