Time for the next chapter
We had a great memorial service for my Mom this past weekend. My sister and her whole clan came in and stayed at my house, my brother and his family spent most of there time here. Most of the weekend I had about 20 - 25 folks in my house eating and sleeping.
It was a blast, it was stressful, it was emotional, and It was exhausting. Everyone left by Monday except my sister who stayed until today. She is now safely home back in Kansas.
We had some very interesting visits with a couple of Aunts this week, including my mother's sister. The two had not spoken to each other in over 30 years. We shared information that both sides needed to hear. Mostly we laughed and enjoyed each other for the first time in a very long time.
I went back to work last night and was so tired I barely made it through the night. It has been a very long time since I dozed off while charting. I did so last night.
I slept pretty good today and have been doing laundry on both sides of my sleep. I never do chores when family visits. It's more important for me to spend time with them. So yes, I am washing all the clothes we've worn over the past 6 days including towels and such. So far I've done 4 loads and have about 3 more left. The house itself stayed pretty well clean, I'll do the floors tomorrow.
But now as one of my Aunts said the other day....after 20 years of taking care of one family member or another it's now time for me to "get out and get a life". Honestly it never really dawned on me it had been that long. Now I am already experiencing a type of "empty nest syndrome". For the first time in many years I don't have to plan my off days around visiting someone to take care of them or their business.
Now I need to find out what I'm going to be doing instead. :(
Missing my Mom, but very thankful she is no longer suffering and finally at peace.
It was a blast, it was stressful, it was emotional, and It was exhausting. Everyone left by Monday except my sister who stayed until today. She is now safely home back in Kansas.
We had some very interesting visits with a couple of Aunts this week, including my mother's sister. The two had not spoken to each other in over 30 years. We shared information that both sides needed to hear. Mostly we laughed and enjoyed each other for the first time in a very long time.
I went back to work last night and was so tired I barely made it through the night. It has been a very long time since I dozed off while charting. I did so last night.
I slept pretty good today and have been doing laundry on both sides of my sleep. I never do chores when family visits. It's more important for me to spend time with them. So yes, I am washing all the clothes we've worn over the past 6 days including towels and such. So far I've done 4 loads and have about 3 more left. The house itself stayed pretty well clean, I'll do the floors tomorrow.
But now as one of my Aunts said the other day....after 20 years of taking care of one family member or another it's now time for me to "get out and get a life". Honestly it never really dawned on me it had been that long. Now I am already experiencing a type of "empty nest syndrome". For the first time in many years I don't have to plan my off days around visiting someone to take care of them or their business.
Now I need to find out what I'm going to be doing instead. :(
Missing my Mom, but very thankful she is no longer suffering and finally at peace.