There goes my life.

“He smiles,
’There goes my life
There goes my future, my everything
I love you Daddy, good night
There goes my life’

She had that Honda loaded down
With Abercrombie clothes
And fifteen pairs of shoes
And his American Express.”

As a parent, many of us wish for the day when your child sleeps through the night, learns to talk so we can understand how they are feeling, what's on their mind, and just wanting them to grow so we can get back to normal once more.

Normal? There's no turning back…face it.

A few weeks ago, my son turned 30! Yes, as in "no longer 29 and holding;" he is officially the age when many people start to worry if they are getting old, halfway through life, and other ridiculous concerns that make no sense at all.

What boggles my mind is at 30 I thought I was done having children and would see my future unfold; I was wrong. However, even though I might have been way off base in my calculations, I did know the worries and concerns of parenthood would never end. As in "never."

Right now, my wife and two of our daughters are far away…they are in Nicaragua; my other two daughters are in California. Then my oldest two children are in St. Louis and Dallas—-leaving me with the dog who likes to eat, sleep, poop and be scratched.  In no particular order.

Last night our youngest called to let me know she "misses me and can't wait to see me soon. "Since she called me, I believe her. It was when I spoke with my second youngest that I got the real truth…"Dad I am doing fine, we've gone swimming, shopping and out to eat a lot." I asked, for a little more information and was told, "Well that's what we've been doing, I need to run." 

Watching your children grow, and move ahead, it's inevitable we will lose control of them; yes, they still love us, but just like we did, our parents did, and our parent's parents did—time moves on and they grow up. It's part of life. 

So much happens after they move from "dependence to independence;" this weekend it meant being able to see three movies "I" wanted to see. Even though it felt good to be able to have some freedom, in the forefront of my mind I could not help but wonder what everyone was doing? I found out they were eating, seeing sites, and doing what I would expect, while they are gone—they're having fun. Yes, without me. I'm ok with it. 

The photo above is the plane I entrusted to take my two youngest children, and their cousin who is living with us this summer, more than 2,000 miles from home. I waited and watched the plane taxi away from the gate, suddenly realizing "there goes my life." I knew it would come, I just didn't think as quickly as it did.

I think I'll see a movie tonight.

Thanks for stopping by.