When I googled the breeding habits of the Cuckoo I found a mixture of two sites. One was the habit by some cuckoo birds (not all) of laying their eggs in another bird’s nest for that bird to raise the young. The other site was relating to the movie One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.
We have both elements. We are raising the young of others, and on a humorous side the insanity that comes with raising a large, blended family.
Fun Antics
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
So I think we can safely go with calling our nest The Cuckoo’s Nest!
Our first born is now 18. He’s an awesome young adult with plenty of lessons learned and plenty more to go. He can cook, clean and take care of himself reasonably well. It’s been a stressful 18 years from my angle and watching him come into landing through turbulence and storms I sit back and breath a sigh of relief. He’s landed into young adulthood, in saying that I’m not totally off the hook, yet! He’s taxi-ing down the run-way and not yet parked. I’ll relax when he’s finally working full time, has a place fully of his own and even married! Yes, he’s the marital type.
Until then, a fantastic opportunity came up to take the next step! He’s moved into a house sharing arrangement where the owners will soon travel and be gone for the better part of the whole year. He is close enough for us to lovingly watch over but not interfere. He will be responsible, a grown up in a trial form. A fantastic opportunity.
So he’s gone! Just like that. Packed up and moved out. TJTeen took no delayed time to snaffle up his bedroom which was the biggest with an ensuite. The house is strange without him, of course he drops around to visit but there is adjustment to be had. I have made the error more than once of putting his dinner away for him thinking he was just late home or I’ve called out to him only to be met with silence.
Yes I have to be ‘not’ brave and admit there’s been tears (don’t tell him, ok!). I instigated this great opportunity so it’s not tears of anger or sadness of that kind. It’s tears of pride, tears that only a mother understands when her offspring spreads his wings and leaps from the nest, successfully gliding in the breeze. It’s also tears of natural worry. What if this and what if that? I don’t think that ever ends, does it?
What the future holds none of us knows. He’s always welcome home, although I can’t see TJTeen giving up that bedroom! Who would!
It’s true that time goes fast. The journey was extremely bumpy and at times felt impossible but now I’m at the other end of this journey I feel like it was only yesterday that I held his little hand and walked him into his first day at Kindy.
I have many years to go before I experience ‘empty nest’ syndrome, if ever. I’m sure I have many tears to shed too as each of the 8 make their journey to the edge of the nest, spread their wings and take flight. It’s an emotional but beautiful journey, I only hope that each one can come into landing as smoothly as the first! I make no assumptions though. Each one is encouraged to walk their own unique path and with that the stumbles and bumps will be different.
I’m a Mum of Teens and Toddlers. Have you reached that stage where your children are taking flight and landing safely?
Time to leave! 
