'It's hard to let go': Empty nester Paula Kontelj on her son's long-awaited Christmas homecoming
Paula Kontelj has kept her son's bedroom untouched for two years as she counts down to his Christmas homecoming from London.
With Christmas approaching, this column is for all the empty nesters who can’t wait to have all their children home for Christmas.
For the parents who leave empty bedrooms as a shrine to their adult children who have moved on with their lives, as well they should.
Christmas is a time of reuniting families and coming together to share the joy of another year around the sun. For Christians, it is also a time of religious celebration, of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Those of us lucky enough to be surrounded by family find these Christmas gatherings more precious each year, knowing empty chairs await at future Christmas lunches.
For our family, this Christmas is extra exciting because our youngest child, our son, is coming home to visit!
I can hardly believe that in two weeks, he will walk through that door having not set foot on Australian soil for almost two years.
He is a successful lawyer in London, and I wouldn’t wish him home as he makes his mark in the world, but as many parents understand, it is so hard to say goodbye when they live so far away and your time together is counted in fleeting, rare visits across the globe.
It seems only yesterday he was a little boy learning to ride a bike, watching DVDs and asking for an ice-cream, but this is what we hope for as parents, to see our children fly!
To see them thrive in the world and make their own way … but it’s hard to let go.
I am lucky to have my two daughters living in Geelong, only minutes away, and I get to see my grandchildren as often as I wish!
What a blessing!
I’m not playing favourites, the familiar faces of those near are also excited to see their brother/uncle soon … the anticipation is palpable.
I have left his room untouched, awaiting this moment.
We will have five whole weeks together before he returns to his life overseas and his room becomes a no-go-zone for me again.
One day it will be turned into a study, or a playroom or something … but for now I’ll just leave it as his room … just in case.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
May the New Year bring you more laughter than tears, more success than failure and more of the people you love.
Originally published as 'It's hard to let go': Empty nester Paula Kontelj on her son's long-awaited Christmas homecoming
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