Life is filled with changes, and some come at rapid-fire pace.  No1 son moved back home a few months ago, flat broke with no place to go.  No 5 son tested his wings and left the nest before his big brother reclaimed his independence.  Ironic.  Now, less than a month later, No 1 is taking flight one more time.  I wasn't ready for No 5 to stake his claim on the world so soon.  Nor was I prepared for No 1 to return to the nest when he did - or be ready to leave again quite yet.  No 5 made wise, well thought out decisions.  No 1 is being impulsive and a little reckless, but I can definitely understand his desire to be on his own again.  It's never easy moving back into your parents house.  I think it's particularly difficult for a man.  A sign of failure somehow.  A blow to the ego.  Being the eldest must add some extra sting to the humiliation.  Personally, I don't see the big deal.  Come back home, dust yourself off, stand back up, try it again.  What mom would see her child as a failure?  They're always babies, never too grown up for home or mothering.  When the nest is emptying out you'll take what you can get - phone calls, letters, emails, text messages, visits, moving into the living room - anything.

That being said, I am beyond excited about the changes taking place in this house.  No 6 (the baby) couldn't claim No 5's bedroom fast enough!  In fact, that room was never actually vacant.  No 6 spent his first night there the night after No 5 spent his last.  He's so proud of his new bedroom I don't expect it to ever get dirty (a mom can hope)!  He's been busy arranging things, hanging things, putting things away, even makes his bed without being told.  Now No 6's bedroom is vacant.  Well, almost.  No 6 is still emptying it of it's less valuable (non video game related) contents.  Do you realize what this means?  It means the day I never really thought would come has arrived.  For the first time in over twenty years I will have an empty bedroom!  My very own office!  And I'll have my living room back in the same week.  How much excitement can one woman handle?

My living room has been divided in half the entire time we've lived in this house.  Part of it has been someone's sleeping space much of the time because kids have continually been returning home after their bedrooms are occupied by someone else - and the rest of the time it's either been game space for kids or puppy space for dogs or computer space for whoever needed it.  Now, at long last, the entire living room will be actual living space.  I hardly know which room to decorate first!

I'm coming to see there is a bright side to my kids growing up if I'll just look for it.  Only one will remain after next week.  But one never knows when another might fly back home for awhile.  Even so, that is not something I hope for - because to move back home would likely be to fall on hard times - and no mother wants that for her children.  It's enough just knowing they all still call this place home - and we continue to grow closer even though we aren't living under the same roof.  I've finally given myself permission to rejoice in the silver lining instead of being depressed about the cloud.