Life at Bedford Manor is changing. Dot starts her second year of college this week. College! While some of her friends are going away to school, we can only afford for her to attend the local community college. Turns out, it may be the best decision anyway because it has one of the best nursing programs in the state. Yup. Dot’s gonna be the greatest Peds Nurse since Arizona entered Grey’s Anatomy.
So far we’ve navigated nicely. While I’m working the day job, she’s been taking care of the home front. Last week she earned her keep by nearly scrubbing every inch of our house in preparation for the jewelry party we hosted. Since then, we’ve both done much to keep it clean: wash our own dishes right away. Make the beds as soon as we tumble out of them. Dust the furniture when the furfamily moves. It’s been wonderful.
I love coming home to a clean ~ really clean ~ house. I like not having a huge list of chores to conquer. Just a short To-Do like check the mail, water the garden. Things that cumulatively take less than fifteen minutes. That leaves the entire evening free to spend with Dot.
And that’s about to change.
Because my wonderful daughter, friend, confidante, and house-cleaner just got her first job. You may have seen the news on my Facebook page.
It’s one of those it-could-only-happen-to-her things. We were at the right place at the right time when she heard about the opening and landed the first interview. The rest was all her! Dot doesn’t realize how blessed she is. But she’s starting to understand.
I’ve been mentally preparing for a few months. I knew once she went back to classes our closeness would shift. She’ll be doing homework at night. Some mornings I might be lucky to just get in a hug goodbye as she leaves.
And now she’s got a job.
Which makes me wonder, what other good things will go her way this year? Is this the year she moves to her own place? (I seriously hope not, but if so, please please please let it be a place that allows cats. Fluffy can’t be without Dot for more than a few hours before that mad howling kicks in.) Is this the year she goes out more than stays home? I told her “home” is not a pit stop. But I can’t fault her for enjoying these moments while she can. Is this the year I lose her as my baby finds herself? Yeah. That’s the tear-jerker statement right there.
At first, the thought of her working made me lonely. I imagine there will be nights when I’ll be eating alone. Nights when she’ll call and say her best friend is in town and they’re going out after work. Mornings when she’ll want to sleep in that extra half hour instead of having a morning chat as I get ready for my day.
The thought of her working made me lonely.
But it exhilarates her. And her exhilaration is contagious. Her future is in front of her, and she’s grabbing hold.
And I’m not so lonely as I anticipate a quiet zone that allows for more writing. More story telling and blogging and typing and wordsmithing and writing. Yeah. This job is gonna be a good thing for me her.
A job ~ this job ~ means new people. Extra income. Opportunities. Socialization… and many Pumpkin Spice Lattes for Da Momma.
But don’t tell her that. She thinks this moment is all about her.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
I am happy for Dot, sounds like things are going just as they are meant to. I know it will be hard for you, but as you are so close, things will be different but fabulous anyway. My mom had 6 of us, and she was good with all of us leaving one at a time, but when the last one (her baby) left to go to college, I remember having breakfast with her and her crying in her eggs. My other sister and I were laughing as that was never a reaction for her when we all did. The empty nest thing is very hard. But, fast forward, we have so much to share with her and each other as we experienced the world. You did GREAT by raising such a wonderful, faithful ,thoughtful daughter. You have lots of reasons to be proud!
Thank you, Winnie, your words are very comforting. I’m so proud of her, too. Can’t wait to see her step into this next stage of her life!
Good for Dot!
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Yes, indeed! I’m so proud of her!