Finally, she was home
The sun was setting when she finally arrived home. I had been waiting for this moment for 102 very long days and I refused to leave the window until I saw her. When she pulled in I could see that she had a huge smile on her beautiful face.
For a moment, that smile took me back.
The first time I held her and kissed her little face. The first time she reached her tiny arms out to hug me. The first time she said “I love you most.”. I remember every moment with her like it had just happened. As the tears filled up my eyes like they did at least once a day since she left for school, I wondered once again where the time went. How is it that my little baby was old enough to be in college?
I heard her car door close before I realized that my husband had already made his way out to her and was swinging her in his arms. She laughed loudly and squealed “Put me down!” Her laugh still melts my heart.
After what seemed like hours of hugging and crying we sat down to listen to her stories. The one about the old van up on blocks that her friend was fixing up for next year’s summer road trip worried me a little, but the rest of them kept us rolling with laughter.
For the next 2 weeks I had my baby back. I could tuck her in at night, cook her dinner and do her laundry. Finally, She was home.
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This is a fiction piece done for The Speakeasy.
MY THOUGHTS ON THE SUBJECT ARE AS FOLLOWS 
What a wonderful story. It lends itself to a book!
Thank you so much. You comments always make me smile.
Awwww I love that
Thank you my friend!
You’re welcome 🙂
Great take on the prompt!
Thank you so much!
Aw, what a warm and fuzzy story! I like the way you managed to write in first person given the prompt. I think you were the only one who did that!
Thank you Stacy. I have been thinking a lot about my daughter leaving to college in 1 1/2 years. Soon, this will no longer be fiction.
My oldest son leaves in 1.5 years too! Such a weird feeling already. The house will seem so empty without him.
Nothing like a homecoming. For both parties.
So true! Thank you Joe.
Thats’s great. You are already thinking 18 mos. ahead, aren’t you? I hope she stays close enough to get to come home some….for all of you. But it sucks everytime they have to go back then. A was 2 hrs away, J was 4. and those were pretty good. It’s a bitch, but you’ll make it.
Yes! I am dreading it already. My heart is hurting so bad thinking about it. I know it will be ok, I will just miss her so much.
Oh, a little lump in my throat…. I couldn’t help but think of my daughter as I read… Oh, tears welling up, and beautiful images skipping across my mind…
That was beautiful, Deana…!
Thank you! I love when you stop by.
And I love ‘stopping by’; there’s always a wonderful reward for me… 🙂
Aw, this is beautiful Deana! It’s amazing how fast they grow up — and how they are always our babies. Heart-warming and lovely use of the prompts!
Thank you Suzanne! I am so glad you liked it.
Oh, this is so sweet. My babies are still in primary and middle school, but I know those days will be here faster than I could ever imagine and this is how I’ll feel.
I still cant She is 17 already… Thank you for reading.
I adore every bit of this. More please 🙂
I am so glad Ruby!
Coming home never sounded as sweet as this 🙂
Thank you so much Anne!
You are a typical mum thinking already 18 months in advance, but I know how you feel. I have written about the leaving in my book and how even looking at my eldest daughter’s washing brought me to the floor sobbing, knowing I wouldn’t be washing her clothes anymore. Now she is married and doing it herself…but a mother grieves when her child leaves the nest, you sadly will be no different. This is a lovely piece Bo and to think you even said cooking and doing her laundry..took me back to what I wrote. May you never refuse to look through the window 🙂 x
Even now, when she is out driving, I stand and watch for her. I wish she knew how much I love her.
A sweet happy story 🙂
Im glad you liked it!
This was a great take on the prompt. Loved it.
Thank you Sandra!
That was so sweet but true as we will always see our children for children even as they grow in some way we are taken back to the memories of watching them grow.
Very true! In my eyes, they are still my babies. Thank you for reading.
way to work in that van – and then move on
Thanks!
Aww, how sweet! And I’m glad that they all enjoyed her break — I spent several breaks from college not wanting to go home because I was having too much fun elsewhere.
I hope that doesn’t happen! Thanks for reading.
Do lots and lots of her laundry! I really like this 🙂
I will! Thank you so much for reading.
That made me misty. Another great piece!
Thank you so much my friend!
A sweet empty nest story.
Thank you!
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Beautiful feelings that (I guess) only a parent could know…
but moving none the less, to those that don’t!
Thank you so much!
This right here… exactly, like that.
Tara! How am I going to do it?
At first it wasn’t so bad, but each time she leaves it breaks my heart that much more.
Sigh… so poignant, so bittersweet. I don’t want my children to grow up and yet they have to grow up. You touched one of my ‘fears’. 🙂
This is a really big few of mine as well! Thanks for reading.
Congratulations on winning and I can see why. This is so wonderful and touching. My oldest daughter starts middle school this fall and I’m a nervous wreck. Great piece. Children do grow up so fast.
You are so sweet! Thank you so much for reading. My oldest will be a senior in high school next year!
You can’t beat a mother’s love, or ever stop her worrying. A lovely story Deana.
Thank you Sarah Ann!
Deana, I just discovered this beautiful post, and I wanted to say how much I loved it, and how it brings tears to my eyes. My daughter is also 17 and will go off to college in just under a year and a half. Having her leave home will be the hardest thing I ever have gone through, because we are very close and I’ll miss her. Thank you so much for writing this, and congrats on a very well deserved win, too. Valerie
Thank you so much Valerie. The closer it gets, the harder I am taking it.
Beautifully done
You so good to me!