MY EMPTY NEST

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I fumble for the house keys inside my bag while balancing the load of groceries I picked up on the way home. I open the door and walk into a neat and tidy room.....its clean as clean can be and SILENT. My mind races backwards to yesterday’s memories. Was it only the other day, that I used to run down the path hearing excited voices inside the room through a door left wide open. I imagine all sorts of dreadful scenes. The room is lined with my pillows and my beautifully embroidered cushions. There are a group of children under the dining room table and chairs. ” We rode on a train and now we are hiding from the enemy” is the excited explanation . That explains the cushions , I think to myself as I peer down to recognize the faces. Can’t seem to locate my younger one. “He’s out in the garden keeping a lookout for our rivals “ I am told. I rush to the backyard where I see three boys on the guava tree.”Come down immediately, you’ll will fall and hurt yourselves “, I shout. My neighbour comes out and tells me she told them the same thing but apparently my son told her,”My mother asked me to live in this tree”! This is supposed to be the siesta time and this is how the kids in our township spent it while their parents were out. Thankfully the official play time started from 4 pm and the house emptied itself as all ran off to the park..... And the early morning rush,...@crazyhorseladycx described it beautifully as “full throttle.” After the kids were fed , the lunch boxes packed, the lost homework copy found, dress changed because it was ‘house-activity ‘day and not regular uniform day, husband ‘s breakfast served and those hurried goodbyes, I used to collapse on the bed for half an hour with my second cup of morning tea and the newspaper. How I enjoyed the “me “ time.....blessed peace..... Time flew and suddenly I am left with plenty of’ Me’ time and I find I don’t enjoy it as much as I used to. As @crazyhorseladycx says” the quiet can sometimes be deafenin'.” We were given a copy of “Dr Spock’s Baby and Child Care book “ as a wedding gift. As a young and very anxious mother I would consult it at the drop of a hat. I have since forgotten all the advice that was there , but there is this advice which stayed with me ..”Enjoy your baby, they grow up fast” And I look back and think of all the hard and difficult things parents have to do while bringing up their child , but the hardest of them all must be letting them go.