By Tina Unsell Seamon 
Today, my 19-year-old son moved out to go live on his own.
He has been preparing to move out for a while now. It hadn’t really sunk in until he actually packed up and left that I realized my beautiful boy was all grown up and leaving home.
And tonight, I’m already missing him.
It feels weird to realize he will no longer be living at home.
That I cannot walk into his room and talk to him or ask him how his day was. Or say, “I love you, see you in the morning,” before going to bed every night.
And a multitude of all those little things we often take for granted.
I keep thinking he will walk in the front door at any minute saying, “Mom, I’m home.”
I feel sad. But I understand.
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Life goes on. And our children must move on.
I get it. They must learn how to make a life for themselves.
But, still, my heart aches.
We mamas have to also learn to let go.
It was the same when my oldest son, who is 22, left for the military. He is currently serving our country in the U.S. Air Force. He lives far away in Florida. That’s a long way from North Carolina.
I miss him dearly, too.
I remember when he left for boot camp. That was a proud day but a difficult one also.
So, for now, that’s two of my sons who are all grown up, each trying to make a life for himself.
Thankfully, I do still have a while to go before my soon to be 9-year-old son decides to leave the nest.
Boy, that will be just as hard.
But I choose not to think about that right now.
In the meantime, I will savor, and enjoy every precious moment I have with him.
Because one day he, too, will be ready to spread his wings and fly.
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From one mama to another . . .
Remember to enjoy your children, and cherish all of their littleness, all of their snuggles, and hugs, their laughter, their smiling faces, and all those perfectly precious butterfly kisses.
Because, they grow up way too fast, and you don’t want to miss one single moment of any of it.
From a mama of three amazing boys—two of whom are men now—just know that today was so hard. Just like the day my oldest son left for the military. And just like the day, in the not so near future, when my youngest son leaves home.
It’s never easy. But I’ll be OK.
I’ll look to the Lord and say . . .
Thank you for my boys who have filled my life with such joy and happiness each and every day.
Their lives have been my most precious gift.
With teary eyes, I can still feel sad.
With an ache in my heart, I can still feel proud.
With a heart full of love, I can still pray for God’s protection from above.
Dear Lord,
Watch over my children as they go about their way.
Guide them, and lead them so that they may not go astray.
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Keep them from evil harm and wrap them in Your protective arms.
May they always feel Your love shining down on them from above.
With excitement for their future, may they walk a truer path.
Lord, with You as their guide their future is bright.
And I know in my heart, without a doubt, that my children will be all right.
Even though at the same time, as I sit and reflect on this moment, I know it’s perfectly normal to feel all of this and then some.
I can still feel sadness. I can still feel gladness.
I can say I have been and will always be grateful to God for the gift of my boys. He gave me three!
Yes, ma’am, I certainly am . . .
One blessed mama.
Originally published on the author’s Facebook page
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