And just like that…

And just like that our last kid graduates from college.

I have heard many people over the years say, time flies so fast and in a blink of an eye everyone is grown up.  The years have passed but we paid a lot of attention to those years.  We kept engaged, we worked hard at being present, we went to all the basketball games, we went on countless family vacations, we spent more time when they were in their early teens hanging out with them instead of going out with our friends, we inserted ourselves into their lives, we were the shoulders to cry on and the shoulders to celebrate on, we applauded them, cheered them on, helped them steer their own paths with guidance and more.

All of this paid off.  We gave them wings to fly, to build their own lives, to forge their own paths and allow us the luxury of being a huge part of their lives as adults.  Having children has hands down been the best thing we have ever done.  I am insanely proud of our kids and the relationships I have with them and the ones that they have with each other.

And just like that, we become true empty nesters.  Good thing I adore my husband.

Comments (Archived):

  1. CCjudy

    I read often about your son – is he going to be a Chef?

    1. Gotham Gal

      We will see. ?

  2. karen_e

    Congratulations!

  3. Kirsten Lambertsen

    Great piece. Almost like a poem 🙂

  4. Jeremy Robinson

    Mazel Tov! My wife and have had a similar journey. We share your sentiment about it being most precious one in life. And now your relationships with your kids keeps improving if you’re lucky! Very corny but it is a wonderful life.

    1. Gotham Gal

      It is a wonderful life!

  5. Erin

    Aww. ???

  6. daryn

    Congrats, what a milestone! It’s been fun watching them grow up on your and Fred’s feeds, and Emily is pretty great on twitter 🙂

    1. Gotham Gal

      Ha. Yes she is

  7. pointsnfigures

    Congratulations! The caboose is gone. Full steam ahead.

  8. Rohan

    I loved this post, Joanne. Congratulations! 🙂

  9. sigmaalgebra

    Great congrats! You definitely did “the right stuff”. Now you get to help the kids get into good careers and marriages and build their own strong families. And you will get to be grandparents and help with the children again. Definitely the right stuff. You saw that plan and executed it, and far too few people do that.

  10. Donna Brewington White

    Great investment. Congratulations!

  11. Pranay Srinivasan

    My best wishes!

  12. Adam Parish

    Beautiful! Congrats!