I just finished making a good bye doll for one of my daughters. It's hard to see in the pictures but it is a mother holding a baby. It's made of cloth and stuffed with wool. She sits on a shelf.Our daughter is not going far away, geographically speaking, but she is leaving home to go to the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Yesterday I helped her move into her apartment in Philadelphia, met her Turkish roommate and her dear mother, and said good-bye.
Our other daughter moved to California a few years ago and has come home, in and out, back and forth from the east to the west coast, here and there. She just moved back to California a couple of weeks ago to go to college too.
Our other daughter moved to California a few years ago and has come home, in and out, back and forth from the east to the west coast, here and there. She just moved back to California a couple of weeks ago to go to college too. 
I’m all for them going, excited about their journeys, helping them pack it all up, here’s the door, but it is still so emotional, a unique, bittersweet feeling like when they went off to kindergarten, only now to the hundredth power.
When my girls were little I made all their clothes, blankets, toys, mobiles, costumes, puppets and dolls. I poured my heart and soul into everything they looked at, touched, ate, listened to, drank, slept in, wore, read, played with and dreamed about.
When they were babies they were all mine, and now over the years, with some often intense pulling, tearing and ripping away, they belong to themselves. The most fascinating aspect of this journey with both of them is that I actually love them more now than ever, if that is possible.
And so begins a new chapter in all of our lives…..My husband and I are down to one kid living at home and he is just entering into high school this fall……ho hum…..and the beat goes on.
9 comments:
That's so sweet! Good luck to your daughter. :)
Precious post, love your doll. You've done a good job raising your daughters....praying for their safety and success and for your feelings during this transition.
How wonderful to give this beautiful doll to your daughter. I do hope that this transition will be smooth for all of you.
What a lovely idea to give your daughters. I wish you all a happy future.
I love this post. Your thought and feellings are expressed so "poetically" for lack of a working brain at the moment.
There is an excitement that goes along with our children moving on, but that doesn't mean that the pulling and tearing is not taking place.
Is this the first time your son will be an only? Or have the older two been out of the house at the same time before?
Enjoy the time. His next 4 years will go fast- as I am sure you remember. I wish everyone luck in these new adventures.
jenny
Thanks so much for your comments and for the link here! That's a first for me, I think. Your blog is brimming with interesting things so I'll be back to visit, for sure!
Hi Victoria,
Love the dolls! What a beautiful idea. Puts something beautiful back into the dreaded goodbyes. Looking forward to keeping in touch!
Blessings,
Julieanne
GORGEOUS doll - great work! I love her. She will be such a sweet reminder to your daughter. Your post made me tear up...when they're little we wonder if they'll ever grow up...when they finally do, we wish they were small again. Raising children just proves how fast time goes - along with proving that your heart can survive outside of our bodies. Hang in there. xx
thanks for all the comments on this one. It's very different around here, that's for sure, quiet and peaceful really. haha!
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