Chatter
Heylo lovelies!
Lookie! I remembered to breathe...and to post a chatter! Weeee
A friend recently told me that I am the Patron Saint of Wayward Souls. That is, I take people in or under-wing and help them get on the path they desire, up to and including them living with us. Hub has been dragged along in this but he actually enjoys the different people we bring into our family, and they do all become family. So far all of them are people we've known prior to them moving in; college kids looking for footing after college, friends who moved and are moving back, someone who's been laid off and is changing direction, etc.
Our son has a friend that he met several years ago online in a game. They've talked on video-chat, texted and talked on the phone. Though they are clear across the country from one another, they remain very close. A few years ago the friend got into some legal hot water which put me in touch with his mom. She's a lovely woman doing the best she can for her son.
Fast forward to Sunday night when Son got a text from Friend asking what town we live in. Come to find out Friend was at a bus station buying a ticket. He was abandoning his job, his belongings and his car very suddenly. Many, many calls, texts and messages later between Son and Friend, as well as me and Friend's Mom, and we convinced Friend to at least drive. To talk to his mom first. To be responsible.
Which he did. And he's on his way to stay here for who knows how long. The goal is to set rules that he has to abide and hopefully his life will get back on track. Since he reached out to us and is willing to travel over 3k miles to stay with effective strangers, he's dedicated.
Friend will make 7 adults living in our 4 bedroom/1 bath Colonial home. Hub, Son and I are the only ones who "permanently" live here because, well, we own it. Everyone else is in a state of transition. The other 3 are all in the late 20's and early 30's. Friend is barely out of his teens and I can't help but have some fear that if something goes wrong, I will feel like I failed him. But then I fully believe we have to help him because if it were Son reaching out I'd want someone to help him.
Among our friends this has earned me the titles of The Nurturer, Big Sister, The Patron Saint of Wayward Souls, and my favorite Mom-dess (mom-goddess).
What titles have you earned from your friends/family? What would you be the patron saint of? Or would you like to be the patron saint of?