Then I came into work and as I was walking past a coworker's office she beckoned me in. "Did you hear?" she whispered. "They're doing in layoffs in January."
Instant anxiety. Now I am wound tight as a drum, vibrating with stress thoughts.
But here's something. My beautiful daughter arrives home tonight. She's completed her first semester of college already. And she seems happy! She definitely thinks she chose the right college for herself, so that really worked out.
My son has one more week of finals, and then he will be home, too. He gave us a whole balance sheet about why he's moving out of his campus apartment and into an off campus house with his buddies, and how it will save us so much money. I was convinced. I made the requisite calls to the school to see if they would release him/us from the housing contract and since he is a second semester senior, they did.
Oddly, my husband isn't completely on board with this. He feels we made an arrangement for the year and our son should see it through. This is a man who honors his contracts, which I love about him. He said, "So strange. Usually I am the one saying, Let them go, but this time, you're ahead of me." It's probably nothing more than the fact that I lived off campus my last year of college while my husband was in dorms all four years.
In any event, I don't worry about the non-stop party I imagine our boy having with his housemates because who are we kidding? He doesn't have to live there to be a part of the festivities. But he does get his work done, and track season has started so the high jinks will taper off a bit now. I'm just glad my son cares about always improving his PR—his personal best—in track events. He is a heptathlete so that's seven PRs for him to work on. His body is his instrument, so he has to take some measure of care of it.
My daughter just texted me she's on the bus home. Wooo hoooo!!!
(Back to work.)
All good. Well, except for the lay-offs and nothing in this world you can do to control that outcome except for what you already do every day.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy those babies.
Ms. Moon, I shall enjoy those babies. And let go of what I cannot control. Ha!
Deletexo
I'm sending only good and positive thoughts your way!
ReplyDeleteNancy, thank you. :)
DeleteJust talked to my son too, who comes home tomorrow, I am so excited to have my family back in one place, even for a little while. I know you are too.
ReplyDeleteHope those layoffs do not include you.
Like Mary said, enjoy having those babies close.
xo
Mel, i know the anticipation and the sweetness of having them home. i'll be thinking of you and your baby birds.
DeleteOh crap I'm so sorry to hear about the whisper of layoffs in the air. Let's say they're just paranoid whispers. Let's say your job is safe as milk no worries. Hang in there. Your babies are on their way home to surround you.
ReplyDeletelove,
Rebecca
Rebecca, I keep wondering if I should close down the blog since i wrote about the whispering. does that make me a candidate? anyway, let's just say they are paranoid whispers. love.
DeleteGorgeous family. Hope the job situ is OK.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile my sophomore daughter has just called to say the cleaners have just tossed six shirts she had hanging (drying) in the empty room adjoining hers, and her room-mates books are all gone too. Sigh...
Expat mom, how frustrating for your daughter! Are the shirts destroyed or can she track them down? Ah well, at least your girl is fine. xo
DeleteIt'll be okay and have a wonderful time with your children at home!
ReplyDeleteKristin, your mouth to God's ear, okay? xo
Deleteahhh. i love this...the fledglings winging home. my son is in the air, flying from SF to NYC tonight, up to Maine next week. then i fully exhale.
ReplyDeletelove to you angella. try not to worry about the layoffs; what will be, will be. enjoy the homecomings!
susan, i love the image of our children winging their way home, meaning to their first home, us. love to you, dear one.
DeleteI'm excited about all the goings on at your house this Christmas and so look forward to seeing the photos and reading your words.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, i have been feeling so iffy about blogging lately; everything i write seems so silly and i wonder if i should just take a break and spare everyone. this is just part of the life cycle of blogs, right?
DeleteOh, ugh, I remember all those whispers. But let me tell you, in my case -- even when they came true for me -- it wasn't so bad. You know, that whole trite when-one-door-closes thing.
ReplyDeleteBut let's assume for now that you're going to be fine. Which I think is true. :)
It's great your son has track to keep him on the straight & narrow!
Steve, thank you for saying that! It is true. Life continued for you in a spectacular way, and perhaps if you had been tied to a job some of those wonderful occurrences in your life might not have had space to happen! This doesn't mean I dont want and NEED my job of course. But I appreciate the perspective. xo
DeleteThe scaffolds are coming down! YAY! That must be such a huge relief.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you heard about possible layoffs, and I know how impossible it is not to worry. Of course, I am now tremendously grateful that my loser former job finally kicked me out the door and freed me up to be open for my new, higher paying and way better job. Who knows what'll happen?
Enjoy your beautiful daughter! And your sensible son's balance sheet :)
ellen, thanks for that reminder. it actually does help. xo
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