A trip to Ikea brought up a lot more for me than I expected when a late night shop had me facing my mortality and lamenting the time passed. Maybe I should have passed on the meatballs?
Maybe it's because I'm back to work next week after mat leave and my firstborn is starting school, so the fast passage of time is on my mind, or maybe it's just PMS, but this piece brought a tear to my eye!
Ah Ren. Thank you for your lovely comment. You have some big milestones coming up, no wonder you feel emotional. I hear you.
Every time my girls move through another stage (and the moving never stops, even as adults), I experience grief and loss. Every time. And then the new phase kicks in and the loss is ameliorated by the developing and deepening of our bonds and experiences. I’ll still grieve though when it happens again…
Good luck as you enter this new phase… let us know how you get on. I’m sure so many mums can relate. X
Thank you Rebecca.♥️ It's interesting (and strangely comforting) to know that the cycle of grief and joy doesn't stop when they get older, even though they're not physically changing at such a speed. X
My heart broke into a thousand pieces when my daughter ‘left home’ for university. I have honestly never felt so much grief and I thought well at least I will never have to grieve another stage of her life. Oh how I laugh at that thought now. She is only at uni for 7 months of the year, she seems to be at home as much as she is away. I’m now prepping for when she leaves uni and won’t get the long holidays to come home. It never ends. And that’s not a bad thing… I’m excited about visiting her first ‘home’ (not her grotty student accommodation). Along with the grief comes the joy and new adventures. Greet them both the same Ren. You’ll be fine. ❤️
Glad you were there for that young man. I believe that God puts us where we need to be. Hope your back is ok. I enjoyed the story. Truth be told I'm 63 and never have stepped foot into an IKEA. I think I'm ok with what I'm missing. I'm currently selling furniture that I love but have no space for it, so It's time for it to go. My girls are grown and after a 20 year marriage I am finally free. Was diagnosed with CF a year ago. My CF presents different than most and thankfully not as severe, but has wreaked habit on my pancreas. Life has definitely flown by much quicker than I imagined. I've had several joint replacements and numerous surgeries over the years. I'll just keep plugging away at this journey we call life until the good Lords decides I've been through enough and takes me home. Getting old ain't for sissys. Some days I feel 16 and others 99. I used to say I was sliding in sideways to the "Pearly Gates" hollering, "what a heck of a ride", now I'm just thankful if I arrive in one piece. 🤣 Take care of yourself and thanks again for your story.
Thank you for your lovely comment Debbie and for sharing more about yourself. What a life you have had… I’m glad you are free at last. Sounds like you need less of some things (furniture, husband) and more of some good things! Plenty of life left to live yet, but at your own pace and on your own terms. That’s real freedom right there. Glad you enjoyed reading the post…there are more posts on my homepage… especially about women, aging and constantly feeling tired. Check them out if you fancy, they may resonate with you. Lovely to have you here. ☺️
Oh that is so true! All of it! Still love IKEA but only before 9pm! Our children have all fledged so we have a race to see who can get into their PJs in the evening now! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Ooh PJs by 9 p.m….that’s sounds like my kind of evening! Glad you enjoyed the post. Who would have thought Ikea could stir up so many relatable thoughts and emotions? … it’s a funny old world! ❤️
Oh this is such a good article! I find it so relatable. The time passing and looking back, looking ahead….so many thoughts are just like I have. Please write more. Xxx
Oh thank you so much Daisy. I have been writing this post off and on since we went to ikea on Monday. I must admit, shortly after I posted it, I had a panic and thought ‘no-one will want to read my ikea inner monologue’. I’m glad I was wrong and I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I’m planning to write more now I’ve started writing full time. Watch this space… more to come I’m sure. Xxx
Brilliant! I definitely want to read more please!! I thought it was really well written, and I was touched by your honesty and sharing your thoughts. I often have that panic after posting on here too, but I must ignore that and get back into it. I look forward to your next post 😊xxx
This is such a wonderfully heartfelt piece, Rebecca.
Yes, these questioning thoughts often occur if we visit places that we deeply associate with our past.
It’s so easy to ask ourselves what have we achieved without always really seeing how far we’ve come. You have of course, achieved a great deal and are now on the threshold of a new career dedicated to writing.
A woman in her fifties is an awesome being (I’m now 71)
She knows her own mind and the world with a sharpness of insight that leaves a trail behind her 🩷
Thank you so much Maureen. I’m glad you enjoyed the piece… I didn’t intend to write about ikea this week… like you say, memories often come flooding back when we return to significant places of our past… who knew mine would be ikea?!
I love being 51, I’m having the time of my life. I’m writing to share ss I don’t like keeping the good stuff to myself. My life is not perfect, always a work in progress but as I have aged I am becoming the person I have always wanted to be. I want that for everyone. And so I write. I’m so happy you are reading and supporting me. ❤️
I love everything about this! Ikea was the furniture of my youth, too. I had dinner with a longtime friend recently, and we sat on the Ted chairs she’s had for decades. Who knew all the odd names were made up? Thanks for a beautiful reflection.
Maybe it's because I'm back to work next week after mat leave and my firstborn is starting school, so the fast passage of time is on my mind, or maybe it's just PMS, but this piece brought a tear to my eye!
Ah Ren. Thank you for your lovely comment. You have some big milestones coming up, no wonder you feel emotional. I hear you.
Every time my girls move through another stage (and the moving never stops, even as adults), I experience grief and loss. Every time. And then the new phase kicks in and the loss is ameliorated by the developing and deepening of our bonds and experiences. I’ll still grieve though when it happens again…
Good luck as you enter this new phase… let us know how you get on. I’m sure so many mums can relate. X
Thank you Rebecca.♥️ It's interesting (and strangely comforting) to know that the cycle of grief and joy doesn't stop when they get older, even though they're not physically changing at such a speed. X
My heart broke into a thousand pieces when my daughter ‘left home’ for university. I have honestly never felt so much grief and I thought well at least I will never have to grieve another stage of her life. Oh how I laugh at that thought now. She is only at uni for 7 months of the year, she seems to be at home as much as she is away. I’m now prepping for when she leaves uni and won’t get the long holidays to come home. It never ends. And that’s not a bad thing… I’m excited about visiting her first ‘home’ (not her grotty student accommodation). Along with the grief comes the joy and new adventures. Greet them both the same Ren. You’ll be fine. ❤️
That is a great way of looking at it ♥️
Love your writing Rebecca, so poignant x Thank you
So glad you enjoyed it Emma. X
Glad you were there for that young man. I believe that God puts us where we need to be. Hope your back is ok. I enjoyed the story. Truth be told I'm 63 and never have stepped foot into an IKEA. I think I'm ok with what I'm missing. I'm currently selling furniture that I love but have no space for it, so It's time for it to go. My girls are grown and after a 20 year marriage I am finally free. Was diagnosed with CF a year ago. My CF presents different than most and thankfully not as severe, but has wreaked habit on my pancreas. Life has definitely flown by much quicker than I imagined. I've had several joint replacements and numerous surgeries over the years. I'll just keep plugging away at this journey we call life until the good Lords decides I've been through enough and takes me home. Getting old ain't for sissys. Some days I feel 16 and others 99. I used to say I was sliding in sideways to the "Pearly Gates" hollering, "what a heck of a ride", now I'm just thankful if I arrive in one piece. 🤣 Take care of yourself and thanks again for your story.
Thank you for your lovely comment Debbie and for sharing more about yourself. What a life you have had… I’m glad you are free at last. Sounds like you need less of some things (furniture, husband) and more of some good things! Plenty of life left to live yet, but at your own pace and on your own terms. That’s real freedom right there. Glad you enjoyed reading the post…there are more posts on my homepage… especially about women, aging and constantly feeling tired. Check them out if you fancy, they may resonate with you. Lovely to have you here. ☺️
Oh that is so true! All of it! Still love IKEA but only before 9pm! Our children have all fledged so we have a race to see who can get into their PJs in the evening now! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Ooh PJs by 9 p.m….that’s sounds like my kind of evening! Glad you enjoyed the post. Who would have thought Ikea could stir up so many relatable thoughts and emotions? … it’s a funny old world! ❤️
Oh this is such a good article! I find it so relatable. The time passing and looking back, looking ahead….so many thoughts are just like I have. Please write more. Xxx
Thanks so much Daisy.. I appreciate your honesty too ☺️ xxx
Oh thank you so much Daisy. I have been writing this post off and on since we went to ikea on Monday. I must admit, shortly after I posted it, I had a panic and thought ‘no-one will want to read my ikea inner monologue’. I’m glad I was wrong and I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I’m planning to write more now I’ve started writing full time. Watch this space… more to come I’m sure. Xxx
Brilliant! I definitely want to read more please!! I thought it was really well written, and I was touched by your honesty and sharing your thoughts. I often have that panic after posting on here too, but I must ignore that and get back into it. I look forward to your next post 😊xxx
I've never been to an Ikea.....
This is such a wonderfully heartfelt piece, Rebecca.
Yes, these questioning thoughts often occur if we visit places that we deeply associate with our past.
It’s so easy to ask ourselves what have we achieved without always really seeing how far we’ve come. You have of course, achieved a great deal and are now on the threshold of a new career dedicated to writing.
A woman in her fifties is an awesome being (I’m now 71)
She knows her own mind and the world with a sharpness of insight that leaves a trail behind her 🩷
Thank you so much Maureen. I’m glad you enjoyed the piece… I didn’t intend to write about ikea this week… like you say, memories often come flooding back when we return to significant places of our past… who knew mine would be ikea?!
I love being 51, I’m having the time of my life. I’m writing to share ss I don’t like keeping the good stuff to myself. My life is not perfect, always a work in progress but as I have aged I am becoming the person I have always wanted to be. I want that for everyone. And so I write. I’m so happy you are reading and supporting me. ❤️
I love everything about this! Ikea was the furniture of my youth, too. I had dinner with a longtime friend recently, and we sat on the Ted chairs she’s had for decades. Who knew all the odd names were made up? Thanks for a beautiful reflection.
Thanks so much Mary. Glad I’m not the only one who has a sentimental attachment to oddly named furniture.
My husband and his mum swear the names are made up, they can’t translate any of them. Think IKEA is having a cheeky laugh at our expense 🇸🇪 ☺️