I hope all of you had a wonderful week! We had a lovely Thanksgiving weekend with most of our families. A few missing kids & grandkids that had other obligations that we should be seeing for Christmas though. I got some quality time with my son while he was home. There are plans in the works for after his graduation that could take him far, far away for a couple of years so I am trying to squeeze in as much time as possible with him.
The impending graduation and possible time abroad for my son set off a new wave of empty nest issues for me last week. Coupled with the onset of winter, the past week or so has been an emotional roller coaster. I suffer each winter from a medium to serious degree of Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. In other words, I endure winter and not happily. Those who live with me, endure me and probably not happily.
During my recent wanderings on Pinterest I ran across this… 
It seems that this is how the Danish people get through their long winters without succumbing to cabin fever. You can do your own research on the subject (and there are a few naysayers online), but I like the idea of sanctuary, community, coziness, WARMTH, celebrating and well-being (without resorting to pills).
Since I very recently had a weeping spell over my lost honeybees, I also need to work on letting go of the whole mothering thing now. Not that I will stop being Mom to my kids, but let go of the need to mother everybody and everything that breathes. The bees are capable of working out their survival with minimal help from me the same way my kids are now too. It’s time I look after myself for a change and of course my husband (who does a good job of looking after me when I don’t look after myself very well).
So, I am lighting candles, putting warm, fluffy blankets everywhere, trying to get back to a regular yoga practice, dragging out the long thermal underwear to use for walks in the woods and stocking up on good novels for the winter. About February, when the worst of the SAD sets in, I will try to remember to give you an update.
**As I am writing this, I just had a text conversation with my son, who suffers from insomnia like I have all my life. Of course I am giving him suggestions and trying to fix it for him. Twenty-two years of mothering is a hard habit to break. Are there 12 step programs for empty nesters???
Photo credits: Hygge photo credit unknown. Pug photo by Matthew Henry.
Pencils, Paint & Paper 