Life, Loss, and Love
While attending college as a non- traditional student, life continues to unfold. Since returning to college in May of 2005, I have lost a good friend to death; have seen two of my children married; lost a beloved male cat name of dotcom; lost our beloved Dalmatian to old age and after grieving over a year, adopted a chocolate Labrador.
I am in awe of college students who have dependent children still at home; I do not know how they manage. An old folk saying about children is “when they are young they step on your toes, but when they are grown they step on your heart”. It is so true. You do not stop being a parent and in some ways it remains the same but you have less control over their decisions and actions; It can be upsetting and can interfere with my ability to do homework and study. That is when I have to remind myself that I am not in charge of the universe and I turn it all over to God to handle.
Many times I turn off my cell phone during a semester such that my grown children do not even have access to me; they can call my husband and plead their case if it’s an emergency.
The one thing I have learned is that even though college is important to me, the people in my life are also important and time does not stand still. Make the time to have lunch with a friend even if it is only at the end of a semester. Reserve an evening for your special someone. Take the time to read a book to a child or bring a hot meal to someone who needs it. That is more important than achieving all ‘A’s. Yes, give your best effort. I am always striving to find the perfect balance in my life. I may never find it but I seek it.
Recent posts by Nancy
- Why it can be difficult for a non-trad to do any study abroad!
- Like a runaway frieght train, this semester races towards the finish.
- Jaguars and Tigers
- Seventy Five Percent Done
- Both Sides of the Fence
- Connections
- How do I spell success?
- Pardon Me, could you please get a life?
- Everyone comes from somewhere
- My keys were not in hand
- Time Management (TM)
- The ABCs of Parking at ASU
- Life, Loss, and Love
- A scholarship can be so meaningful.
- Who knew a Newton was not a fig bar?
- Why does a person return to college?
- Voting as a 'Rite of Passage'
- Oh where oh where has my 'Motivation' gone?
- Textbooks can be intimidating!
