Glad to hear you back Mika. Always love to read your writings. And so happy to see your journey on Substack. I did take some pause for two months and it was so worth it. Indeed slowing down and listening to what we need is more important. Cheers! 🍹🌼
So many changes, Mika! I'm glad to hear you've been taking time off and facing them with intention 😊
I'm SO excited for what you'd be up to on Substack next, can't wait! 😍
Heads up on poll issues I faced - don't know if it was just me and hopefully just a temporary glitch, but I couldn't vote on your in-post polls on the post overlay which opens on Substack home, only managed when I opened the post in your publication. Hopefully it was just me and your stats are not suffering due to that 🤞
Mika, I’m sure your heart is all over the place, but I’m glad that you went on holiday with your husband, I’m glad you took a break and I love that you’re feeling the fear, but going for the adventure anyway. I’m excited for you! And I’ve been feeling the same. Sending you sprinkles ✨💜✨
I’m letting myself slow down. We’re still putting the house back together, but I’m not in a rush to get back to “normal”. I don’t even know what normal is anymore. 😆🤷🏽♀️✨
Wow this feels like such a threshold for you Mika! I love how you're embracing this new chapter - just what I needed as my son leaves this year and my daughter's right after him the next year so I need to really build the possibility of creative expansion into this wide open space. Thank you! And PS also on a Substack writing break that feels very good :) xo
All these years I thought that slowing down or taking a break was “bad”, but through Substack, I’m learning that I get creative breakthrough during my breaks!
I don’t think we ever think we’ll get to a stage where our kids leave home. I’m really glad that hubby and I persevered with having weekly dates. When the kids were young I didn’t know one day to the next, so I would always forget. We also didn’t always go out either. Just some time together.
And going on a trip together straight after they all left was a game changer. ☺️
Change is afoot Mika! How are you adjusting? I am more used to my daughter being away but still miss her! Looking forward to seeing what you create next here xx
I was struggling with all the changes before they even left! This meant that hubby and I really had a good talk about the changes and how we would face them together. It was really lovely and we are having so much fun together. 🥰
I still miss them, but, like you, I think I’m used to it as well.
Thanks for your encouragement with everything. I really appreciate it. xx
I totally feel like January is a pause month (and part of Feb too, to be honest ☺️)
I only have one friend who has no kids at home, the rest all have kids at home and will have for the next few years. I feel like I didn’t get a real chance to talk to anyone about it. I guess that’s also because our daughter decided kinda at the last minute to go, so it moved really quickly.
I have to admit, that I’m really glad that we persevered with date nights, once a week - even when I would forget what day it was (every day blended into each other) or when we would often have to stay home for our in-house dates because of no babysitters or no money. 😆
It’s paid off now, because we still love each other’s company after all these years.
A new year and so many adventures ahead for you Mika. Enjoy that empty nest and the new way of relating to your daughters as they spread their wings. It's a strange transition, but a good one too. Looking forward to seeing where you take your Substacking through 2025. I love the idea of your new place and what you want to do with it.
We have a son and a daughter - and yes it was definitely a big change for us when our kids married - I think our son began to understand the idea of "family" more, and our daughter became less "ours" and we had to learn to share her. It's been an interesting journey.
That makes sense! Our son has had opportunities to grow as a person lately, that he could have never learned through us telling him - but he’s learned through experience ☺️
It depends on how they are emotionally. Our son is an engineer and very independent - high IQ and lower EQ. Creating his own family has helped with his EQ score :D
Congrats on your wedding anniversary!
Thank you! 😊🥂💕
Glad to hear you back Mika. Always love to read your writings. And so happy to see your journey on Substack. I did take some pause for two months and it was so worth it. Indeed slowing down and listening to what we need is more important. Cheers! 🍹🌼
I’m glad you took a break. How are you feeling after the break? (Love the emojis you choose!)
Refreshing! 😊
So many changes, Mika! I'm glad to hear you've been taking time off and facing them with intention 😊
I'm SO excited for what you'd be up to on Substack next, can't wait! 😍
Heads up on poll issues I faced - don't know if it was just me and hopefully just a temporary glitch, but I couldn't vote on your in-post polls on the post overlay which opens on Substack home, only managed when I opened the post in your publication. Hopefully it was just me and your stats are not suffering due to that 🤞
Thank you for always cheering me on!
Thank you for the heads up on the poll!! xx
Mika, I’m sure your heart is all over the place, but I’m glad that you went on holiday with your husband, I’m glad you took a break and I love that you’re feeling the fear, but going for the adventure anyway. I’m excited for you! And I’ve been feeling the same. Sending you sprinkles ✨💜✨
Yes, it’s a bit like that. ✨💜✨
I’m letting myself slow down. We’re still putting the house back together, but I’m not in a rush to get back to “normal”. I don’t even know what normal is anymore. 😆🤷🏽♀️✨
It must be hard because it might feel like the world has moved on, but you all are very much still feeling the aftermath of the fires xx
Thank you for sending me such lovely vibes. 💕
How are you doing?
Wow this feels like such a threshold for you Mika! I love how you're embracing this new chapter - just what I needed as my son leaves this year and my daughter's right after him the next year so I need to really build the possibility of creative expansion into this wide open space. Thank you! And PS also on a Substack writing break that feels very good :) xo
All these years I thought that slowing down or taking a break was “bad”, but through Substack, I’m learning that I get creative breakthrough during my breaks!
I don’t think we ever think we’ll get to a stage where our kids leave home. I’m really glad that hubby and I persevered with having weekly dates. When the kids were young I didn’t know one day to the next, so I would always forget. We also didn’t always go out either. Just some time together.
And going on a trip together straight after they all left was a game changer. ☺️
Yay new year new you 😀 I'm interested in the idea of your new pub and also interested to read about your process in how you set it up and grow it!
I think it’s going to be a fun experiment. Now…just need to make sure I don’t get stuck in perfectionism. ☺️
Change is afoot Mika! How are you adjusting? I am more used to my daughter being away but still miss her! Looking forward to seeing what you create next here xx
I am adjusting better than I thought.
I was struggling with all the changes before they even left! This meant that hubby and I really had a good talk about the changes and how we would face them together. It was really lovely and we are having so much fun together. 🥰
I still miss them, but, like you, I think I’m used to it as well.
Thanks for your encouragement with everything. I really appreciate it. xx
Exciting times ahead! It feels surreal to read about an “empty nest” when my children are still so young, but I imagine it must be significant.
January has been a month of pause for me. I'm excited to kickstart the year after we return from the holiday!
I totally feel like January is a pause month (and part of Feb too, to be honest ☺️)
I only have one friend who has no kids at home, the rest all have kids at home and will have for the next few years. I feel like I didn’t get a real chance to talk to anyone about it. I guess that’s also because our daughter decided kinda at the last minute to go, so it moved really quickly.
I have to admit, that I’m really glad that we persevered with date nights, once a week - even when I would forget what day it was (every day blended into each other) or when we would often have to stay home for our in-house dates because of no babysitters or no money. 😆
It’s paid off now, because we still love each other’s company after all these years.
I’m looking forward to next creative adventures.
Here’s to new adventures! 🥂
A new year and so many adventures ahead for you Mika. Enjoy that empty nest and the new way of relating to your daughters as they spread their wings. It's a strange transition, but a good one too. Looking forward to seeing where you take your Substacking through 2025. I love the idea of your new place and what you want to do with it.
I love how you put it “new way of relating to your daughters”. Did you find that your sons changed again once they got their partners?
We have a son and a daughter - and yes it was definitely a big change for us when our kids married - I think our son began to understand the idea of "family" more, and our daughter became less "ours" and we had to learn to share her. It's been an interesting journey.
That makes sense! Our son has had opportunities to grow as a person lately, that he could have never learned through us telling him - but he’s learned through experience ☺️
Love these learnings. I assumed that when our son got married, he would make his wife his “family” and we would hardly see him. 😄
It depends on how they are emotionally. Our son is an engineer and very independent - high IQ and lower EQ. Creating his own family has helped with his EQ score :D
Wow. Empty nest! Big step. I have one more year left with the youngest. *sniffle*
There were tears leading up to it and even afterwards there were things that reminded me of them that tugged on the heart strings.
Highly recommend going on a trip with hubby straight after the last kids leave. 👌
That’s a great idea. Totally doing that!
Also recommend having regular weekly dates leading up to them leaving. ☺️
You don’t have to leave the house either. 👌