Tammy's Tidbits

I recently came across a meme that stopped me in my tracks: “The sad part about being a parent is that you are raising a person you can’t live without… to be able to live without you.” As simple as those words are, they hit me hard because they’re heartbreakingly true.

Patrick and I are now in a phase of life where our children are in their twenties—living on their own or building full lives that mostly don’t involve us. This is a natural part of life, I know, but it doesn’t make it any easier. We spent years centering our lives around them—providing for them, teaching them, loving them with everything we had—and now, they’re out there in the world, thriving.

While we’re so proud of them, we’re also adjusting to this new dynamic where they don’t need us in the same way they once did. They’re forging their own paths, and we wait on the sidelines for the moments they need us again.

Why Didn’t We See It Coming?

Looking back, I wonder why we didn’t anticipate how hard this stage would be. Maybe it’s because we were so busy during their childhoods—caught up in the hustle of life, work, and everything in between—that it feels like those years sped by. I wish I could go back and savor every single moment with them, fully embracing the chaos and joy of those days instead of always being in a rush.

Gratitude Amid the Heartache

Even though this transition is tough, I remind myself how blessed we are to have had the chance to parent our children. My heart goes out to those who longed to be parents but didn’t get the opportunity, or those who experienced parenthood for only a short time. Life can be so beautiful and so heartbreakingly hard, and it amazes me what God sees us through. Through every high, every struggle, and every bittersweet moment like this one, I’m holding on to Him. I’m leaning on His promise that there’s still so much to look forward to in this next chapter of life—with Patrick by my side.

A Message to Our Kids

To our children, I want you to know how much we love you. When you say, “I love you,” and you hear us reply, “I love you more,” we mean it with every fiber of our being. No matter how grown-up you become, no matter how far away life takes you, being your parents has been—and always will be—our greatest joy.