Is it strange to you how time just flies past. I'm surprised regularly by how I have come to be where I am. So many life changes, yet not truly changes at all.
I left the teaching profession, and I am completely content in no longer being in the field of education. I really do not desire to return to the classroom. I miss my students from the previous years, but I am tired of the bologna that goes along with being in the classroom. So many cooks in the kitchen theory if you will. So that has been pleasant. I'm not quite as stressed out; however, I have no incoming money, and that is beyond overwhelming. I just wish my student loans would vanish. 35K in student loans to become a teacher is ridiculous. I had been teaching for 17 year, and that is where I am still at! Upsetting for sure.
I moved in June. Both of my children are still living in our house, but we have moved 5 hours away. It's crazy that I have two adult children. They are not where I would like them to be in life, but they are living their lives, and I cannot control that. It's so difficult to be a parent sometimes. My youngest seems to be doing pretty well, but doesn't seem to have any real drive at the moment. She is not going to school, which is fine. I was paying for her classes to date, and I really am struggling to pay my own loans, so it's ok for her to take a break in my mind. I just want her to really know smart she truly is. I think she doubts that. Fear controls too much of our lives, and I know I struggle with that. My eldest is at an unusual stage of life questioning their identity in every way. I struggle with this simply because they are my child that I have known for 23 years. I can't picture them as anyone different from the person I know. It's a bit devastating. Actually, it's extremely devastating. I don't want them to change, but again, it's their life and not mine. So I have to get over it and continue to embrace my child. It's a lot harder than I would have ever imagined to say goodbye to my child and welcome my new child. I'm anxious for their future.
My spouse and I are living 5 hours away from our house. His retirement career has become bigger in scope, and that resulted in him having to move. He was living far away for months, until I was able to leave my job and move to be with him. I miss my children deeply, but I am happy to be an empty nester with my spouse now. It's been a fun ride to date.I did something crazy just two weeks ago! I went skydiving (tandem)! It was always something that I wanted to try, but was afraid to even contemplate. Then, partially due to a channel I've been watching off and on, and partially because it was a bucket list item, I chose to do it scared. "Do it scared" is probably one of the best phrases to exist. Yes, it's scary. Acknowledge it and then do it anyway.
Skydiving was one of the coolest things I feel like I have ever done.
Overall, I am happy with where I am in my life. It's weird being a grown adult with growing adult children. It's weird being an empty nester. This life in general is weird, but we live it anyway. Even if we are scared.