Bea Lewis

Q: I have two young children – ages 2 and 4. My mother and I are close and she comes over often so I can get out to do errands or to play tennis. Recently, she told me that she and my dad are planning to move to a retirement home in Florida. I feel like an abandoned child. Is this normal?

A: (from Kimberly) OMG – that is just how I felt when my parents moved to Florida. ABANDONED!!! My daughters were little then, and I wondered how my parents could move far away and not see these adorable little girls in their daily activities. While I often miss the day to day time with my mom, I understand ( and try to accept) that she and my dad did their job raising me and my sisters and are entitled to enjoy their later years. I still miss our time together- but we do Skype and visit each other often – and when we do, we make each moment special. Just as our parents need to let go of us – we need to let them fly away as well.