It was about 4 years ago when we were doing some remodeling to our 1905 home that I gave up my approximately 18′ x 12′ studio/family room so that the kids could have bigger bedrooms. While the 2 older kids were already out of the house and would have loved to have had bigger rooms growing up, it did not work out that way. Bruce our oldest had been out of the house for a while and Michelle had just gone away to college so David who was going into 11th grade got the large room to call his own, thus giving John and Callie larger rooms, I moved my studio into the small 11′ x 7′ room upstairs and the family room went into the remodeled basement.
When David went away to college 2 years ago John moved into that large room and we painted his old room for Callie to move into. Her old room became sort of a guest bedroom although my studio spilled into that room also, along with filling the storage rooms in the basement……..
John left home yesterday for the US Air Force (the picture above is of him & me taken this past weekend), while I had known for the past year and a half that he was leaving, since he signed up on delayed enlistment when he was a junior in High School, it is still hard looking at the big empty room he left behind. John spent his last week washing every stitch of clothing he owned, sorting, throwing things and packing up his room. So now the room would be available for Callie to move into but she had told me over a year ago that she did not want to move into that big room, as she loved the room she had.
So it is with Mixed Emotions that I get my large studio back…….knowing that John has signed up with the US Air Force for the next 6 years and he will not be returning home. I will be taking pictures over the next few weeks and months of the studio spaces I have now and the one I will be moving into.
Ann, I know exactly how your heart feels! It’s so hard when the grow up and move on. With one daughter in NC another in VA and our son in OR, while we’re stuck in TN is really hard for me. However, there are some good things about emptying the “nest.” They grow up too darn quickly! Can’t wait to see your studio pics… bigger space=good thing!
Ann — One door closes and another one opens. It’s so hard to close those old door, partciularly when they concern the things most dear to us — our beautiful children. But a larger studio means you can now do and think BIGGER and BETTER. Congrats on the new space! You’ve been a great mom and worked hard. You DESERVE a big space of your own to be the creative genius you are. 🙂
Jen (www.getrealscrapbooking.com)
How bitter/sweet. I wish your son well! and you no worries while he is gone. my workroom is only 10’x 10′. and one whole wall is kitchen upper and lower cabinets! love it!
our son has been gone, serving a church mission, the last two years, with only weekly contacts through mail or email. he returns in 7 weeks, and phone calls on mother’s day and christmas! it doesn’t seem real, that he is coming home. [My arms will be clung to him for hours!!!]