Mommy Diaries: Saying goodbye to family just gets harder and harder

Another family trip to New York, another tearful farewell at the airport.

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Nana Liz and Colum at JFK Airport

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But I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again -- we will miss New York.  How could we not?

We’ve made great lives for ourselves here, developed life-long friendships and I strongly believe that they’ll always be a part of us.

But thanks to the Internet, phones and planes, New York and our friends are never going to be too far away.

While unloading mom and Mike’s luggage from the trunk of our car last week at JFK I glanced around to see other people saying their goodbyes.

One Irish woman with a strong Northern accent was hugging what looked to be her father tightly.  She cried as he assured her he would see her at Christmas.

It didn’t seem to quell her tears though. She left him at the door of the airport and one could feel her pain immensely.  I knew we were next to do our own goodbyes.

Like most people I hate them, so I clung tightly to Colum, threw him around for some last hugs and kisses and back into the car I lunged immediately.

We will be home in eight months so there really is no need for tears, I was telling myself. But eight months is still a long time, especially in the life of a child.

As we drove away from the airport that day John and I discussed how happy our decision to move home has made our own parents.

A New York-based friend of mine became a grandfather to a beautiful baby boy a few weeks ago.  He just spent over a week with his new bundle of joy in Chicago and told me on the phone today that he wept tears of sadness while saying goodbye to him.

“The last time I cried April was when I left Ireland as a teenager,” he shared.
I really don’t want there to be any more tears!

Liz has already picked out a stroller she wants us to purchase for her to go into the container home.  She keeps telling me what she has to baby proof in her house and gets so excited at the thought of her grandchildren playing on swings (that she doesn’t own) out her back garden. It makes me happy to see how excited she is about our return.

I guess having children changes everything, and for us those changes will bring us closer to our families and further away from the lives we once knew in America.  And that’s okay by us!
 

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