Our daughters left for school last Tuesday and I have been trying to find my footing as a Mother of three sons in our home. Jeff and Andy have had a busy first week of school, starting early morning seminary and Soccer. They leave at six am and are not home until about six pm, so its not like they have been around much anyway.

Our oldest daughter Michelle has been my near constant companion for twenty two years. When she decided to live at home after high school and work these past four years, I had no idea how ill I would be and how important, crucial, it would be for her to be a part of our daily life. She has truly been a second mother to Benjamin these past eight years. He had a total meltdown two days before she left as it hit that his Shelly would be leaving.

I don’t have any words of wisdom or profound insights about this phase of life. Rather I just feel blessed to have two smart daughters who are grasping the future and moving forward with their lives. Both of them have friends with tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debts, and they are very focused on making certain that does not happen to them. I am so grateful for the clarity they both have on that subject and pray that they can stay focused and work hard.

Jeff just started his senior year and plans to apply to several schools…he wants to serve an LDS Mission and is thinking about studying Economics in College. He wants to try to get into the Air Force Academy and has been going through the application process to make that happen. He is singing in the Chamber Choir, Playing Varsity Soccer, and is going to be a four year member of the Speech and Debate Team. He is such a great guy and I love him so much.

Andy and Ben we will have with us for a few more years, and we are delighted with the progress they are both making as young men.

This side of Motherhood feels so overwhelming and difficult. Letting them go and watching them move into adult life. I am so grateful for the tremendous blessing of having these souls in my life for now and in eternity.

It has been such an honor to Mother them…

Jenny Hatch