When the Crew Becomes Its Own Captain

I have bought and packed a lot of things for my children during my 25 years of motherhood—lunches, baseball bags, overnight satchels for sleepovers, vacation suitcases, and college dorm room essentials. Each item procured and packed marked a season of growing up. When you transition from their favorite stuffed animal to an iPad charger, you realize you’ve been gently preparing yourself for the big move. The one where the items no longer fit in a duffle but instead require several large bins and trucks. That moment when your child drives away, returning only as an overnight visitor rather than a resident.

Why am I feeling so nostalgic? Well, my oldest has just purchased a house, and as excited as I am for him (and us!), I realize this marks the end of a chapter for us as parents. We are celebrating, for sure. We accomplished what we set out to do—raise a child who confidently moves into the world to explore and embark on their own journey.

Here’s the thing—it’s hard when the crew becomes its own captain. If you’ve ever crewed on a boat, you know that each person has a role and a unique personality that makes the race or cruise enjoyable. There’s the one who brings levity to chaos, the one who cracks jokes to lighten the mood (but sometimes causes chaos), the planner who takes care of essentials, and then there’s the rare breed who embodies many of these traits. All of these traits work in sync, balancing one another out to achieve success. It’s the perfect harmony. When one of those members takes the helm of their own boat, you will undoubtedly miss their presence during the everyday grind.

So we will stand at the dock, crack champagne on his bow, and monitor the radio if he needs anything. Wishing you smooth sailing on your new adventure, my sweet son. There are many ports to explore, fantastic people to encounter, and numerous lessons to learn as you navigate your way.

If I could give you one piece of advice, it would be this: Have your adventure, but always monitor the weather. You will encounter some storms, but if you are prepared and have a worthy vessel in life, you will always navigate through them. There will always be something that wants to send you off course, so stay true to your bearings. Enjoy where you are. We all dream of the next stop and adventure, but sometimes the best views and moments happen where you’re anchored now. You ALWAYS have a home port to return to when you need a place to shore back up. We will always be there to grab your lines and secure you to the dock when you need us to.

Bon voyage, kiddo.