This pink chair was painted this week, in the midst of moving my daughter Melissa into her house on campus.
It was painted with love and is my way of making sure there is a little piece of home in her newly decorated pink and black room.
Along with many bins of clothes, kitchen supplies, bedding and other essentials, the chair was loaded into her car - full to the brim, as I waved goodbye.
She will only be an hour away, but when you are missing your daughter, any distance is too far.
Especially when she reminds you she may not be back to live at home ever again - a twelve month lease on a house means no more summers at home and then of course there is graduation looming.
But, I have learned a few things in this empty nest life. They need to go and you need to let them. They do come back for visits and those visits are special times. We will meet for tailgates, for lunches and dinners. There will be a lot of happy hellos and sad goodbyes.
You find they still need you - your advise and sometimes just a sympathetic ear. And, most importantly you find that hearing how happy they are - becoming who they are supposed to be - is all a parent can ask for.
Happy Monday!
Linking with Between Naps on the Porch and Savvy Southern Style and Jennifer Rizzo