Home is a Revolving Door

My oldest child left for college, had an apartment and was doing great. But when college was over, he ended up coming back home. This was unplanned and unexpected. My other 2 children were thrilled with finally having their own room. My daughter had frillied up her room. My youngest son had made his room his own as well. So when my oldest son called and asked if he could move back home temporarily, I wasn't happy at first. The word "temporarily" is what made it seem more appealing.

Don't get me wrong. I love my son, and I was sad when he left home to go to college. But as time passed, I got used to it. Our family learned to live without him living in our home. It wasn't easy either. We all missed him, with his wonderful sense of humor and his easy going nature. It took quite awhile to get used to being without him. Suddenly, we were going to have him with us again. It was an adjustment.

I remember well asking him how much stuff he had to move and he said "not much". When we went to help him pack up and move his things, his "not much" turned out to be enough to fit into a U-Haul truck. All I could think as I was packing was how on earth all of it was going to fit into my house. He had a lot more than he did when he had moved out 2 years earlier.

My younger son had gotten adjusted, and actually was thrilled that his big brother was moving back home and liked that they were going to share a room....until he saw how much stuff he had. Somehow, someway...they managed to stuff it into one room and share. It was messy, packed tighter than a drum, and there was barely room to walk. Still, it didn't seem to bother them...

He ended up staying about 3 months, which wasn't too bad. He finally got an apartment with a friend of his. My younger son was happy to have a room to himself again.

My daughter moved out soon after and I turned her old bedroom into my home office...complete with a sofa, a desk, a nice bookshelf with all of my favorite books. It was MY room. And then, one day...she called. "Mom? Can I move back home for awhile?"

I took a deep breath, took a look around "my" room, and softly answered "yes". She's still home with us, and my computer is still in her room. She isn't sure how long she will be here.

My youngest son told me the other day that when he leaves, he is going to be the first of my children not to move back home. All I could do was smile....and dream.