Reading out to touch the empty seat; that's very moving, Emily.
I see you have A Hidden Wholeness on your stack. I have to confess that I recently had it out of the library but only read one chapter. That's not a comment on its quality; so many were enthusiastic about it! I guess I just didn't need it at this time.
I have enjoyed Elizabeth Strout in the past but haven't read any of the others.
Thank you, Don. I’m glad you received it that way because it certainly felt that way when I did it.
I haven’t started A Hidden Wholeness. I got it because it has some information in it about leading listening groups, which I’m currently doing (and thinking about offering here on Substack, if I can get up the courage to do it). There are many different formats for this, and I like to have all the options then create my own.
Elizabeth Strout always floors me with the utter ordinary and, therefore, extraordinary nature of her characters. For me, she captures what it feels like to be human with such clarity and simplicity that I sometimes get overwhelmed and have to put the book down.
I appreciate you seeing that, Amanda. The fear that I have created the same kind of havoc for my kids that I endured myself hovers at the edges of my brain. But incidents like this one help me to trust that my children had a different experience.
I’m a Mom of three wonderful adult kids… all of whom are now on their own. The empty nest that folks speak about has become a reality for me, and coming to accept that is definitely a process. It’s so difficult for me to think that these wonderful people I’ve lived with and shared life with for almost 30 years will never live under my roof again. I’m beyond happy for them - but not necessarily for me…
I appreciate this Korie. It helps hear from someone who’s been there. My youngest child, my daughter, will leave for college next summer. You are so right that it is a process! I suppose I will get more and more used to it. I’ve lived outside of my home of origin for decades now after all. Surely, the experience will grow more common place. But I don’t think the process of watching them move out and on will ever really end. Thank you!
Reading out to touch the empty seat; that's very moving, Emily.
I see you have A Hidden Wholeness on your stack. I have to confess that I recently had it out of the library but only read one chapter. That's not a comment on its quality; so many were enthusiastic about it! I guess I just didn't need it at this time.
I have enjoyed Elizabeth Strout in the past but haven't read any of the others.
Thank you, Don. I’m glad you received it that way because it certainly felt that way when I did it.
I haven’t started A Hidden Wholeness. I got it because it has some information in it about leading listening groups, which I’m currently doing (and thinking about offering here on Substack, if I can get up the courage to do it). There are many different formats for this, and I like to have all the options then create my own.
Elizabeth Strout always floors me with the utter ordinary and, therefore, extraordinary nature of her characters. For me, she captures what it feels like to be human with such clarity and simplicity that I sometimes get overwhelmed and have to put the book down.
Tell me what you’ve been reading lately:)
Another beautiful post, Emily. It’s lovely to see how you have been able to be a good parent despite not having been set a great example. 💙
I appreciate you seeing that, Amanda. The fear that I have created the same kind of havoc for my kids that I endured myself hovers at the edges of my brain. But incidents like this one help me to trust that my children had a different experience.
I’m a Mom of three wonderful adult kids… all of whom are now on their own. The empty nest that folks speak about has become a reality for me, and coming to accept that is definitely a process. It’s so difficult for me to think that these wonderful people I’ve lived with and shared life with for almost 30 years will never live under my roof again. I’m beyond happy for them - but not necessarily for me…
I appreciate this Korie. It helps hear from someone who’s been there. My youngest child, my daughter, will leave for college next summer. You are so right that it is a process! I suppose I will get more and more used to it. I’ve lived outside of my home of origin for decades now after all. Surely, the experience will grow more common place. But I don’t think the process of watching them move out and on will ever really end. Thank you!
Ah, I love all of this but the passage about your son is especially beautiful, thoughtful and bittersweet ❤️
Thank you, Kate! Yes, it’s definitely both.