A Last Dinner
We may have had our last dinner together as a family. At least, as a family that still all lives under one roof. The 21 year old begins moving out this weekend and will be officially out of the house in a few days.
It was a simple meal. Nothing special. Just some soup. The younger kids and I had been eating for a few minutes when my husband and the 20 year old came home. Then the 21 year old arrived a few minutes later. People came and went and shuffled places around the table. There were a few squabbles and I had to send the 5 year old away from the table for a bad attitude. She later decided to eat her dinner and returned. I think the 16 year old left the table in tears and then came back. Someone threw a balled-up napkin across the room.
The conversation started with discussing a tragic death of a police officer from a hit and run, to politics, then on to abortion. The younger ones drifted into the adjoining living room while the 4 older kids and my husband and I talked. The 13 year old asked a lot of good questions, which spurred more discussion.
Just a normal, run of the mill dinner.
But it may have been the last. Sure there will be dinners here and there where we all might be together. But with the 20 year old moving out as well, those meals will be few and far between. And it won't be quite the same anyway after they move out and are more like visitors.
Now, I want to be clear: I am really happy for both of my oldest kids- moving on, growing up, living their own lives. I'm not even feeling sad. I'm excited for them and excited to move into a new phase in my own life as the mother of kids out on their own. But I wanted to remember the last meal we all had together. I wanted to write it down, so in the years to come, when I ask myself "when was the last time we were all together for a meal?" I would be able to recall it.
I'm glad it was simple. I didn't fuss over a menu. The house wasn't clean. I wasn't even sure if all of them would be at the house for dinner because so many times they make plans at the last minute. It just sort of happened.
Some of the best memories are the ones we didn't plan for, or even anticipate. Some of the best memories are just us living our lives in the moment, and at the same time, recognizing that this moment is one that should be remembered.
It was a simple meal. Nothing special. Just some soup. The younger kids and I had been eating for a few minutes when my husband and the 20 year old came home. Then the 21 year old arrived a few minutes later. People came and went and shuffled places around the table. There were a few squabbles and I had to send the 5 year old away from the table for a bad attitude. She later decided to eat her dinner and returned. I think the 16 year old left the table in tears and then came back. Someone threw a balled-up napkin across the room.
The conversation started with discussing a tragic death of a police officer from a hit and run, to politics, then on to abortion. The younger ones drifted into the adjoining living room while the 4 older kids and my husband and I talked. The 13 year old asked a lot of good questions, which spurred more discussion.
Just a normal, run of the mill dinner.
But it may have been the last. Sure there will be dinners here and there where we all might be together. But with the 20 year old moving out as well, those meals will be few and far between. And it won't be quite the same anyway after they move out and are more like visitors.
Now, I want to be clear: I am really happy for both of my oldest kids- moving on, growing up, living their own lives. I'm not even feeling sad. I'm excited for them and excited to move into a new phase in my own life as the mother of kids out on their own. But I wanted to remember the last meal we all had together. I wanted to write it down, so in the years to come, when I ask myself "when was the last time we were all together for a meal?" I would be able to recall it.
I'm glad it was simple. I didn't fuss over a menu. The house wasn't clean. I wasn't even sure if all of them would be at the house for dinner because so many times they make plans at the last minute. It just sort of happened.
Some of the best memories are the ones we didn't plan for, or even anticipate. Some of the best memories are just us living our lives in the moment, and at the same time, recognizing that this moment is one that should be remembered.
Love this. And all of you.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDelete