About 4 weeks ago we heard from our daughter that she was preparing to return home ~ which meant time for me to return home soon too.
The emotional roller coaster is something I don’t think I can properly describe, but I’ll try.
My husband also had a work trip just before she arrived so they actually came in to town almost at the same time. This wasn’t the plan, of course, planning is hilarious. Originally, we planned he would drive down the week before she returns to help me get ready to leave and to welcome her home well.
I had a day before their arrival of a lot of last time things that were a little sad, last walks with the dogs just me, last night in the king size bed with them and just me. It was a lot but the thought and emotion that was the most prevalent was happiness that she is returning safely and that the dogs were healthy and happy enough right up to the day of her return.
We stayed a week to help her re-integrate and adjust to the time difference as well as just spending some time with her. That week I was in the guest room, it was a weird change for me. I was hyper-aware of hearing the dogs in the other rooms overnight and fought hard not to get up to check on them. She needed to be the one to do that now. I didn’t sleep much that week. Days were interesting, still working from the house and having the dogs in the room was sweet but very distracting.
The last night before leaving I did their end of night routine of a dental treat, it’s quite an event. We hype the dogs up for it and the dogs absolutely love it to the point of telling you when it’s time. They’ll walk up or stand in front of you and stare or wiggle until you acknowledge that “its time” and get up. It’s cute.
We headed out on a Friday so I worked a couple of hours in the morning, then before leaving our daughter asked if I wanted to do one of my special lunch’s for the dogs one last time so I put together their tuna fish, cottage cheese, salmon jerky, blueberries and apple.
It was bitter sweet. So glad she’s home and I was returning home with my husband but also letting go of the dogs was a lot and not a lot at the same time. I had prepared myself for a meltdown after we drove away, my husband expected it too. It didn’t happen and still hasn’t.
I miss them and truly am thankful for the opportunity to love them but I think the righting of the ship of her returning and me going home took over for what should have been an emotionally charged day. The first week home the dogs were in my dreams and we got a lot of updates from her during the days. She’s doing well and enjoying her R&R with the dogs.
One unexpected moment, when we drove up to the house and walked inside, I fell in love with it again. We did such a good job creating our home. The build is awesome and the decor is coming together, it’s just so us.
I love our home and I am so thankful.
Life Notes 