Rascal Reunion

Miller Time

The week flew by and here we are at the start of the Family Day long weekend.

This hasn't always been the case, but this year for the holiday Monday all of our Rascals will be home: the older two will make their way back to the homestead from Toronto and we'll have our houseful back.

It's difficult to describe how much I miss my older, independent rascals.  Did I mention they are very independent?  I guess this is what made them truly "rascals" when they were younger, they all have strong personalities and "minds of their own".  Our youngest is still a teenager so we're still in the thick of real rascal behaviour... but I have the perspective of seeing the other side of that now.

When we have kids we groom them to exist outside of ourselves, and it's a long road from infant to young adult.  Some exhibit rebellious spirits that need careful coaxing and understanding from the get-go, others are perhaps much calmer and closer during the childhood years but then snap into a "different personality" during adolescence.
What I've noticed is that the centre of the individual, that bright light constantly shining during childhood, comes back in early adulthood.

So, even though my older rascals have forged lives of their own, and they are independent from us in every way, I still feel as connected to them as I did when they were young children.  Yet I have to exist knowing that they are walking around in the world, navigating all kinds of situations good and bad... without me.
I know that all parents go through this, and this is the end-goal of parenthood, but I still find it shocking.

We try to drive in to Toronto every three weeks or so to see our older rascals for lunch or dinner but we've been unable to do so since Christmas.  So I sent them care packages instead, a box of Clarins skin care and make-up ordered from the website for our older daughter (as a graduate student she really appreciated the luxury of this) and this care package for our Ole Rascal son.

 Ole Rascal famously has the stomach that is an "Empty Pit of Misery" so of course I sent filling foods.  Lots of potato gnocchi, some ramen, dark chocolate and a bit of tea.  He is most definitely a coffee fellow but he does drink tea in the afternoons and evenings.

I sent him some pumpkin seeds which are terrific for sprinkling on everything but are very good on potato gnocchi, especially paired with the sun-dried tomato pesto I sent.

I had to add a book to feed the soul!  Ole Rascal studied physics and works as a software developer, but since graduating University and immediately going into a demanding job he seems to really enjoy reading fiction.

I found some stainless steel containers perfect for transporting lunch to his office, and an extra-large water bottle.  Stay hydrated Ole Rascal!

If you have any care package ideas I could use for the older rascals please let me know.

Today I'll be prepping the house for our long weekend, planning the dinner menu for Monday, buying flowers for the bedrooms, tidying and polishing. My favourite kind of day.

I hope yours is a happy day, which might seem an unattainable objective after the devastating news out of Florida this week.  Sometimes when the world seems heavy and perhaps hopeless due to all of the grim news it can be difficult to find a balance.  These are the times our humanity is in question.  This is when we need to look to the core of the best of ourselves, our love and care for each other, to see us through.
Love to you,
xoxDani

ps I'm going to halt my daily posting streak for a couple of days due to the Rascal Reunion.  I'll be back for Mop Philosophy Monday xx