This is 35 summers.

I know. I know. I was one of the voices asking moms, “How many summers do you have left with your children?” And I knew full well this question would pull at heartstrings and invoke tears. But I believed what I was asking! Soak it up because the end is near! It’s all downhill from here! The problem was I hadn’t read the rest of the story… …

They still love you. They still need you. They still want you.

It’s different. And I think this is the part we might not be prepared for. Grown children grow up.

We have 18 summers with them as our children, but we enjoy a lifetime of summers with them as our grown-up, adult family.

I’m writing a new bible study for women over 50. The chapter I’m writing now is titled THE MYTH OF 18 SUMMERS. Like I said, I perpetuated the myth. Guilty as charged! It’s because I didn’t know. Now I know.

This is 35 summers.

Summers look different, but they are still full, and wonderful, and intentional, and happy. Life goes on, albeit differently but oh so sweet.

This is 35 summers. Keep counting mama. 18 summers is a myth.