When my oldest left for college, the tears started as soon as we pulled out of the parking lot. I cried for six days straight! I have never really gotten over the end of our family all being together. However, the youngest was still here and my husband had work in town and we had horses. We went riding frequently and even went camping with the horses. It helped so much to have something to do to ease the pain. But then...the economy tanked.

Now, almost eight years later, my husband has no work in this state, my youngest is leaving in two months and we are in bankruptcy and moving out of our home. In spite of everything else, the worst pain of all is knowing that my job of Mom is now over. They say there is nothing harder than losing a child, and you think that means death, which of course, is worse. But when they leave home, it is another form of loss that we find ourselves grieving over. I have never experienced anything as painful! Fortunately, I have a husband that understands, but he can't be with me. I have no family, either. It's easy to say re-invent yourself, but not that easy to do!