Keeping the melancholy at bay

[Anonymous]

I love having kids more than I ever thought I would. I truly enjoy most minutes with them, and as they get older, I feel so melancholy about their advancing ages and growing independence. And they are still really young! The are 6, 4 and 1. I feel like the days go by so very fast. The middle one is going to K next year, and that makes me feel so sad since I've seen such change in my eldest after he starting K this past Fall (not bad change - just the totally normal getting older and learning more and becoming more independent). Do you have any tricks you use to quell the sadness? I am, of course, happy that my kids are doing well and making friends, and getting independent and of course, I want this for them! And I want them to have a life outside of our home. But - it just makes me feel so sad, at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Therapy, CBT, light dose of Prozac, lots of exercise, healthy diet, meditation, volunteering (not just at their school), time for myself and with adult friends, and one on one time with each child.

When any of those get off track, I feel the imbalance.

[Anonymous]

Just enjoy it. My DD is 16 and it makes me so happy when she wants to spend time with me, and when I see her making decisions based on lessons I tried to teach her years ago. It shows me that she's taking me with her as she gets more independent.