A friend I haven't seen in a while has moved back to my city. Her daughter and family live here. So she and her husband have a built in welcoming committee. At least, that is how we outsiders whose children live elsewhere see it.
As she and I are talking--we are trying to make plans to have lunch--I suggest we meet onThursday or Friday of the next week.
She is hesitant. She and her daughter are planning to have lunch on one of those days, but the daughter hasn't let her know which one yet. "It's a difficult situation," my friend says. My answer: "Let me know which one your daughter doesn't want and we'll have lunch on that day."
I don't need to know the specifics about "difficult." I just know we are all on eggshells and in touchy situations when we deal day-to-day with our grown children. We want to do things together--have lunch with a daughter, invite a son over for dinner--but some of us are wary of intruding on their time and in their lives. And they seem to be equally wary about being intruded upon.
Whatever difficulty my friend and her daughter are having, I figure I can at least be willing to help. We may have to be flexible when it comes to our grown children--adaptable in finding graceful ways to accommodate their needs--but when it comes to friends we can just be flexible, as in plain old flexible.
I just found your delightful blog. As mom to 25 yo son and 23 yo daughter, both of whom live in far off states, I have really enjoyed the posts I've read. We are thinking of splurging for a fun family trip for 6 (including their significant others) and I enjoyed your travel with grown children posts. Thank you! I'll be back!
Posted by: Liz | February 16, 2013 at 10:43 AM
thanks for the pat on the back--so glad you've enjoyed the posts. And what a great way to splurge--a trip with your grown children and their S.O.s. Enjoy.
Posted by: penpen | February 16, 2013 at 03:42 PM