When the Chick Comes Home

They don't tell you this about empty nesting.

Oh, they'll tell you about the quiet house. They'll tell you about finding extra leftovers because you're no longer cooking for an army. They'll tell you about having more freedom, more time, and fewer piles of shoes mysteriously appearing by the front door.

What they don't tell you is that every now and then, the chick comes back to the nest.

And when she does, this momma bird is absolutely delighted.

Whether it's a holiday, a long weekend, a school break, or one of those magical "just because" visits, there is something so special about having your child back under your roof, even if it's only for a little while.

These past couple of weeks have been an unexpected gift because my daughter has been enjoying a nice, long fall break. And let me tell you, this house has come alive again.

The laughter is louder.

The conversations are longer.

The refrigerator somehow empties faster.

And I couldn't be happier.

We've spent our days doing ordinary things, which somehow become extraordinary when we're doing them together. Running errands. Visiting her grandmother. Watching movies. Sharing meals. Catching up on all the little details of life that don't always fit into a quick phone call or text message.

And honestly? Some of my favorite moments are the quiet ones.

The moments when she's not even paying attention to me.

When she's grinning at something on her phone. When she's cuddling with her dog. When she's chatting with friends. When she's simply existing in the same room with me.

I know that sounds a little sentimental, but if you're a parent, you get it.

There is something so beautiful about sitting back and admiring the person your child has become.

This amazing young woman who is building her own life, finding her own path, making her own memories.

And every once in a while, if you're lucky, you catch a glimpse of the little girl she used to be.

You'll hear it in her laugh.

See it in her smile.

Catch it in a funny expression she's made a thousand times before.

For just a second, the years disappear.

And your heart does that weird little thing that only a mother's heart can do.

Truth be told, I was overdue for a good dose of mothering.

I needed the movie nights.

I needed the car rides.

I needed the random conversations that start nowhere and somehow end an hour later.

I needed to hear her laugh echo through the house again.

Most of all, I needed the reminder that while our children may leave the nest, they never really leave our hearts.

So, here's a little shout-out to fall break.

Thank you for bringing my chick back home for a while.

This momma bird has enjoyed every single minute.

Now if I could just convince her that fall break should last until Christmas, we'd really be onto something.

A mother can dream.