Erma Bombeck where art thou?

"Everyone is guilty at one time or another of throwing out questions that beg to be ignored, but mothers seem to have a market on the supply. "Do you want a spanking or do you want to go to bed?" Don't you want to save some of the pizza for your brother?" Wasn't there any change?"

-Erma Bombeck

My addition to her quote is now "Are you going on vacation with us?"

 I am facing, for the first time, a vacation without a child in tow.   He has chosen to stay home from our yearly family vacation. (I mean what is wrong with him? We have the best Griswold Vacations but I digress)  We as moms oftentimes forget that time is fleeting when we first start out.  We get lost in the whirlwind of diapers, playdates, sport and music practices, visiting college campuses yadda yadda yadda.  Many kind-hearted moms that we know, remind us to cherish the time with our children because time flies.   Tempus Fugit.
I am a longtime follower of Erma Bombeck. I did as she told me. I burned the fancy candles. I left the beds unmade. All to have more enjoyable times with my children.   But how did she not warn me about this day?
This trip has inspired me to write about my transformation. Please pardon my horrific middle school writing.   For the last 23 years, the most writing I have ever done was "Please Excuse" school notes, and Post It Note messages scattered around the house.  To this day I am still writing DONT EAT. PRE-LICKED  or  EMPTY DISHWASHER FOR WI-FI p.w.
That is him in the picture, the one looking away, or maybe not away, he's looking forward.  Towards his own life. At least I still have 2 still looking at me and smiling.  Well, one is smiling. Ah crap.

Pittsburgh fall 2018

When mothers talk about the depression of the empty nest, they're not mourning the passing of all those wet towels on the floor, or the music that numbs your teeth, or even the bottle of capless shampoo dribbling down the shower drain. They're upset because they've gone from supervisor of a child's life to a spectator. It's like being the vice president of the United States.

Erma Bombeck