Have you ever had one of those moments where you could see the change coming? I mean, we all go through these phases of life where it seems like everyone you know is graduating or getting the “grown up” job. Then there’s the season of everyone you know is getting married or having children. Well I think I’m about to round the corner of a new phase.

Here is what I think and where I am at. For those of you who don’t know, I have a 13-year-old daughter, 8-year-old twin boys, and Alex, who is no longer with us, and we have been a very tight unit for all these years. We always did stuff together. We would have movie nights or family dinners and would go out and do things. Like I said, we were a unit. Don’t get me wrong, we still are, but things are shifting.

Shifting and change are not always a great thing, but this time, I think I can see it coming. The couch is not nearly as crowded on movie nights, and I keep finding dinners in the microwave. It seems everyone is starting to have their own lives and my wife and I are unpaid Uber drivers.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not upset. I’m actually excited about this, as I can see the new chapter coming and it seems like we are getting out of the phase of always having children with us or making arrangements for them. I think it is great to see them have their own activities and schedules starting to fill up, and when we have parties, they are wanting to bring their crew over. I like when I can look into a room and see them all having conversations like little mini-adults and them not even knowing I’m there. They are getting older…and here comes the new chapter. 

I do want to say that even though I can see this new chapter heading this way, it does not mean we are there yet. So, I need to make sure we fight for those family moments, and you should, too. After all, it is those times that I think of when I think back on my childhood. I don’t remember when I was five years old and went to the beach. I remember going to the beach and not wanting to be stuck in that condo with my family. So, moms and dads, how can we do it differently? How can you make the change to where these memories are the fun ones? Try something new, go somewhere you have never been, and have fun, because this new chapter is coming whether you want it to or not.