Everything Changed Today

So today finally came.

The day the children grew up.

The grandchild left for school.

The daughter found her true love.

Today finally came

When the rooms were emptied.

The driveway had space.

When the barking stopped

And the noises of family life

Dwindled to a loud silence.

Today finally came.

I knew it would.

I prepared.

I prayed.

I cried.

I sighed.

But today finally came and

My role as mom and grandma

Has been relegated to Facetime

And Zoom.

No more hugs

And crab stories,

Tickling and beach parks.

Laughing at Alexa jokes

And eating too much pizza.

They aren’t gone forever.

But they are no longer here.

And how it hurts to breathe

Between the sobs.

Today came and everything changed.

Because that’s what happens in life.

Children grow up,

Move on,

Leave for new lives – new adventures.

My influence was only for a season.

They were only temporarily mine.