The winter break has come and gone.  If I squint hard enough, I can still see wallets, Christmas gifts, keys and other little pieces of your lives on the kitchen counters.  In the stillness of your absence, I think I can hear the X-Box, your music, laughter and good natured teasing.  I can almost smell the coffee, tea, eggs, omelets and oatmeal you made and then devoured while watching Sports Center and Mike and Mike on ESPN.

You burst through the door, excited to have a break from the grind of being a college athlete.  If you’re not studying, you’re working out, throwing or competing.   Time home is time spent recharging your batteries.  So, you did just that – or I hope you did!  But, what you probably don’t realize is that your presence, your hugs, laughter and conversation lifted and energized me.

Thank you for coming home.  Thanks for indulging me like no one can do.  Thank you for riding around looking at Christmas lights and trying my experimental recipes.  Thank you for listening to my childhood stories and asking questions about my life.  I appreciate you updating me on the stuff going on in your lives even if you don’t let me see your Snapchat posts!  Thanks for letting me measure your height without asking me, “when are you going to stop doing it?!”

As you were packing up, I sensed you were ready and excited to get back and on to the next phase.   I know home is a rest stop for you and I’m thankful it’s a place where you’re comfortable.  Before you left, you each gave me a big bear hug.  I watched from the back door as you backed out of the driveway and we waved just like we always do.   Watching you go, I pray a little prayer – thank you and please get them back to school safely!

I watch you go and think about my conflicted, messy feelings, my sadness jumbled up with the joy and gratefulness of knowing you’re following your dreams, embracing your passions and achieving your goals.  My joy always beats out the sadness.