What a way to shake things up!

Well dear imaginary reader it’s a wrap, summer 2018 for all intents is over. For sure there are still fun times in good warm weather ahead, but these must be wrapped around the regularly scheduled events such as work, school and sports. I remember when our kids were much younger feeling ready for the routine of the school/sports year. By the time the new school year came around I was ready for routine, I bet you are surprised to read that aren’t you dear imaginary reader (wink, wink).

Our Labour Day weekend was filled with visitors, so nice to see loveable Nanny from London, our favorite neuroscientist and her Economics Guy and get extra time with Teach. We got a wee pinch of time with LLB before she headed up north with everyone but Teach. A smidgen of time with the Boy and DC - got a long weekend with Murphy which made Ollie happy (OK, he was happy to see him leave yesterday as well). TLOMIL became Chipper Man again, finally able to work on the pile of shake and make me more mulch along with the handy most thankful for help, from Teach. Me, well - I was chief cook and bottle washer as my Mom used to say. I managed to irritate my hip last week while working in the garden, what a shocker.

Yesterday this happened,

Yes dear imaginary reader THAT is Teach loading up her Dad’s car with some of her stuff to head toward the Big Smoke, entering the unknown world of an Occassional Teacher. What a process it is to get on as a full time teacher..oh my! I did my very best to hold it all together while this process was taking place. I heard more than a few “Ma, your making me feel bad”, “MOOOMMMMM you know that I’m not gone forever right?”, and then it was “Ok, that’s it, see you in a couple of days”! And then, she did IT. I couldn’t believe it....

She left - as she was supposed to. As we had prepared for. As she took the next step in “adulting” spreading her wings just the way that we had raised her. Ouch!

Today is the first day in 26 years that someone from our house is not starting or returning to some sort of educational institution. 20 freaking 6. No excitement of back to school shopping, tears of being left with or in a teacher/dorm/new city. Starting Uni’s in new countries I lived through with the big kids via Skype (oh how times have changed). 26! That means that the Boy will soon be 30 (Oh my dear GOD!!), LLB is closer to articles (anybody need a law student?) where ever they may take her, and soon (gulp) Teach will be in the BIg Smoke full time. Yip, I think that is a pretty dramatic way of shaking things up.

Today, Nanny is back in London

Today our neuroscientist and her Economics Guy should be safely home, the Big Smoke has both the girls and TLOMIL. The Boy and DC are busy with their professions - and wedding planning.

Today, the sun rose - the school bus trundled down the road and I had happy thoughts mixed with a few tears. And then it hit me, it really is JILLIE TIME!!! I will still have some juggling to do but now I come first, cheers to that dear imaginary reader!