A "Plan"

I think most of us have a plan, okay maybe not a well thought out life plan that would make Tony Robbins proud, but a plan or at least a direction in which we are headed. It's kind of nice rolling day to day feeling somewhat in control of things then crack, life hits you with a lemon. This lemon could be anything from a surprise pregnancy to an injury, or a promotion. It's not always a bad thing, just something that throws you off course and makes you think, okay what now? So, this was the inspiration for creating this website and why it has its name. 

I was hit with a lemon about 6 years ago. Yes, I'm a little slow at getting the ball rolling in making this website, but as they say, better late than never haha. Six years ago, my life was clicking along at a great pace, I was a stay-at-home mom to a son in high school, my husband had a job he loved, we owned a home in a beautiful town...life was good. Well, almost too good right??? See, I knew that in a few months, my son would be leaving our home and heading off to college in another state. WHAT?? I knew the time was coming, we all do. With each school year ending we know we are one year closer to the big "graduation". As that day nears, we spend so much time focusing on them and their path. Will they go to college and if so, all the school tours, applications, paperwork, SAT's etc. Will they want to start working and if so, what does that entail? The focus is all about them and the closing of one chapter and the beginning of the next. But through this whole emotional rollercoaster of a senior year, I guess I never thought about myself and how I would be impacted. My job was ending. I had given up my career when my son was in middle school and accepted the job of house CEO, which included landscaper, cook, cleaner, driver, and all the other things needed to keep everything running smoothly. My weekends were filled with sporting events, days were filled nagging about time management, but life was full. We dropped our son off at college and he settled in quickly, he was excited about all Tampa, FL had to offer. We flew home and it hit me....my life as I knew it was over! Don't' get me wrong, we were excited about his journey and were incredibly proud of all the hard work he put in to get to that point. I was also really excited to have time for just my husband and myself. We could date night any night of the week, weekends were open to do anything we wanted, this was going to be a really fun chapter for us as well. But my role was over, there was no turning back. I had given up my career and now what happens?? I talked to girlfriends and those that were considered SAHM's were all feeling the same. Do we start a new career? At this age, we aren't the first pick for employers (albeit no one in HR will tell you that haha). It was such a weird time, I was really excited for him and also really excited for me. This was "My Time" and I could go conquer all the things I had put on the back burner for all those years. The problem was, the things I had wanted all those years ago, I didn't really want now. I didn't want to climb a corporate ladder, the only ladder I didn't mind climbing was the one I used to pick oranges off our tree. I didn't want to just find a job, I wanted to do something meaningful with my time. Over the past 6 years it has been interesting watching all of us retired SAHM's navigate this situation. Sometimes, we question giving up our careers, was that the right choice? For me, the answer is yes. I wouldn't trade the years I had at home for anything. I was only able to have one son to raise and having worked all through his elementary years, I am thankful I had those later years to spend with him.

So now that we have been in our "empty nester" stage (ok that could possibly be the worst word ever... who thought of it?? It sounds like we are birds!) for 6 years, I can tell you.... It's amazing! Yes, we love when our son comes home and we miss having him here all the time, but this new phase has been a blast. Our next adventure is trying to play pickleball.... prayers our way haha.

So for all your SAHM's that are in the midst of that life right now. Enjoy it, enjoy every minute of it. It goes by so fast and then when you feel like your life is crashing down when they leave the "nest", remember this post. Your life will continue to be great. If all we had was one chapter, life would be pretty boring. The best of books, have many chapters and so do our lives. Every chapter is different, but they can all be great. The LAKAH (life after kids at home) stage is what you make it out to be. You have freedom to eat what you want, when you want. You can sleep in, go to bed early, the freedom is yours. Be there for your girlfriends who are going through the same thing. As of today, none of us have figured out what we want to do when we grow up, and I guess that's ok. Maybe one day we will have a great epiphany and decide but until then, I am enjoying every day as it truly is a gift!!