Wow! That was a deep question put to me 10 minutes before a meeting that I was a little nervous about. But Chris was reaching out, trying to get some support for something that obviously was weighing on her. Concentrate I told myself.
How should I answer? Chris is sad because she doesn't want her daughter to move away from her. When we like our kids - and vice-versa - it's nice to have them around. But it's selfish, really. Of course I didn't say that. That would be mean.
Would I like to have Amy and Jud live nearby? Certainly. It would be fun to have them over and to go shopping together and see them more than a few times a year.
But even more than that - I want what's best for them. And that might not be here.
I asked Chris the reason for her daughter's proposed move. It's a job opportunity that she and her husband won't have here in Iowa. It sounds like a move they should make. "How exciting!," I said, "it will be hard for you if they go - but you'll be so happy to see them succeed." Chris might even need to be prepared to give her daughter pep talks when she is homesick. Plus they'll need have a cool place to visit!
I don't know if I convinced her. We're all different and I don't know how intertwined her life is with her daughter's right now. Our ten minute discussion didn't allow time for that.
In my case, even if our children lived here, I can't picture us being besties. They lead very independent lives as do Paul and I. Other fams are different. Some probably thrive when they don't live by each other. #disfunctionalfam
Bless Chris and her fam. And kudos to me for not whipping out the corny poem, "If you love something, let it go".
The meeting went great!
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| If the kids lived nearby we could do this every game...NOT |
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