My husband is a rock star—not in the literal sense—but as a husband and provider. He’s been incredibly successful in his career and has received numerous accolades to show for it. After a recent success that was highlighted by social media posts and an article in the local paper, my dear friend texted me this: “Congrats to Scott, and congrats to the wife and mother who helps make his success possible.”
Wow. That hit hard. I even teared up a bit. I had received many congratulatory texts from family and friends. And while some of those folks may have been implicitly attributing some of his success to me, none had actually said that. And I really needed to hear it.
I’m at a crossroads in my professional life. I have a law degree, and for seven years before our oldest daughter was born, I was a successful lawyer. I practiced part-time for a bit until I decided I wanted to be at home full-time with her. I then spent the next 19 years either at home or doing part-time work that worked with our family’s schedule. Because of the long hours that my husband worked, which often included nights and weekends, we decided I would be the primary caregiver, and I put my career on hold to do so.
Fast forward to the present day. I just turned 50. Our oldest is away at college and our youngest, a junior in high school, is busy with school, sports, and friends. My husband continues to work long hours with no real end in sight.
So, I find myself trying to navigate this new normal, which is often spent contemplating my next steps. I know this struggle is not unique, nor new to women. It’s just the opposite—I have become the cliche empty-nester searching for purpose after nearly two decades of devoting myself almost entirely to my children.
Friends have given me inspiration. One has become very focused on her health and wellness, another is becoming certified to teach, a third has started a travel blog, and a fourth is refinishing old furniture.
So as I sit here and pray to God for guidance as to where this new chapter will lead me, I also pause to thank Him for my people—my amazing husband who worked so hard so that I could be at home with my daughters, my amazing daughters whose character and success have made every minute of parenting worth it, my amazing friend who sent that text recognizing my (often unrecognized) contribution to the family, and to our amazing God who made it all possible.
I look forward to seeing where my wings will take me as I embark on my own journey of leaving the nest (although I may need to supplement with some Calcium and Vitamin D to propel the take-off).
by Heather McGuire 
by Eileen Palma 
by Kate Swenson 
