Over the past four months I was blessed with having all three of my grown boys at home, even my oldest son whose twenty-five and has spent the last seven years traveling the world.
Below are a couple conversations we had about his next adventure.
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Six Months Ago
Ronnie: I think I will stay in Croatia for a while.
Me: Croatia! Where is Croatia? I have never heard of it. It sounds like a communist country? Is it in Russia? You don’t want to go to Russia, it’s not safe.
Ronnie: Mom, it’s not in Russia and it’s not a communist country. It’s a beautiful oceanfront tourist destination in Europe. Besides, I lived in China for three months, remember my hostel in Beijing?
Me: That may be so, but you were under the care of a University in China. Who do you know in Croatia? What are you going to do there? It sounds sketchy.
Sam: Mom, you think everything sounds sketchy…
Me: Everything IS sketchy.
Fast forward to two weeks ago.
Ronnie: I have my ticket to Croatia. After I spend a few weeks there I’m going to Estonia.
Me: Astonia! Where is Astonia? It sounds like a make believe land in a movie. I can’t even find it on a map.
Ronnie: Look, it’s right here.
Me: Oh Estonia… I thought you said Astonia.
Cedrone: I thought he said Astonia too.
Ronnie: I said Estonia (sounds like Astonia).
Me: Whatever. Let me see that map. Ooohh it looks cold.
Ronnie: It is cold.
Me: I just thought I’d point that out in case you didn’t know.
Ronnie: I do know.
Me: Who do you know in “E” stonia? What are you going to do there.
Ronnie: I’m going to register my online business.
Me: What? You’re a drifter who’s going to let you register a business with no residential address? I’ve never heard of such a thing. What’s it in for them? How much money do they want? How long do you have to live there?
Ronnie: Mom, it’s really a thing. Estonia is the first country to offer programs for online entrepreneurs to register their business with no legal residency. Look, I can register as a Digital Nomad.
Me: Let me see that. Wow. “Digital Nomad” does sound better than drifter.
Ronnie: Thanks a lot.
Me: Just sayin…
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Being a Mother is the hardest job in the world because it means the inevitable, saying goodbye.
As I pulled away from dropping him off at JFK for his flight to Croatia I got a little teary. But I was proud of the fact that he knows what he wants and how to go get it. I also felt like I must have had something to do with his adventurous spirit and resourceful attitude.
Being a mother also means saying and hearing things you never thought you’d say and hear, like “hostel in Beijing,” “I think I’ll stay in Croatia,” “I’m registering as a Digital Nomad in Estonia.” Or “Where is Croatia?” “Where is Estonia,” “You’re a drifter.” It also means putting aside your often misguided preconceived notions and keeping an open mind while allowing your children to think outside of the box.
I think you can officially say you have succeeded at your job as a mother when you have raised an independent individual who can function on their own among society and is ready to take on the world. I also think you’ve succeeded when your child is respectful enough to answer berating parental questions even though they’re grown and don’t actually have to.
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See More of my year with the boys and Sweet Stories
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To my three sons;
Follow Adventure wherever it leads.
For happiness is what your heart needs.
Climb a mountain as high as can be.
Jump in the water and swim out to sea.
Ride a race car around the track.
Have so much fun you may never come back.
Fly in a plane across the sky.
Watch out the window as the world passes by.
In a train and across the valley.
Through a city and down an alley.
Around the world and back.
I hope you didn’t forget your lunch sack.
I sure do wish you had lots of laughs.
Please send many photographs!
Adventure awaits but don’t forget me.
I’m your biggest fan wait and see.
Love Mom.
#mythreesons
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Some Great Parenting Books.
My personal parenting belief is that a child should be allowed to express their individuality and assert their independence. I have started my own parenting book but in the meantime I love these ones below.
Sweet Dreams Photography 