Over five years ago my father called to tell me my grandmother had passed. At the moment, stricken with grief, I hadn’t realized that for our family this was to be a life altering event. This experience would reach far beyond the normal grieving process. Our lives were about to completely change.
We were living in New York. Chancellor, Damian, Rosa (an infant) and I. We had just gotten home from a vacation to visit family in Michigan (a 14 hour drive for us). I had seen my grandmother the day before we left. She had recently moved into a community home and she was not happy about it. The last conversation we had went something like this:
Her: “They sold my car.”
Me: Jokingly “Maybe it was for the best.”
To which she responded to by punching me in the arm… (not jokingly)
“I love you grandma”
“I love you too. “
Grandma Naomi with Rosa |
I immediately booked a ticket to go back to Michigan via plane. Rosa and I rushed to the airport. We got to Kennedy and hurried to the gate to find out that the flight had been delayed, and delayed again, and delayed a third time. While waiting at the airport, a woman sat next to me. She opened the conversation about how she already missed her son. She was travelling on business and had left her son at home with his father.
We talked for hours waiting for the plane. This conversion, specifically was the life changing moment I referenced earlier. We talked about how I missed my family in Michigan. She told me to move back. I explained how our debt on our house was more than what we could sell it for, she told me to just walk away.
When I got home, that is exactly what my husband and I decided to do. Chancellor got a job in Michigan, and we moved in July after the school year had ended.
I was a stay at home mom. It didn’t take long for me to create Metro Detroit Mommy. See the story here: http://metrodetroitmommy.com/all-about-me/
I learned a lot from that woman at the airport. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, set your goals and reach them any way you can if it is important, we always have a choice. But I think the biggest lesson I learned was “Don’t wait for someone to give you permission or tell you how to reach out and grab your goals.”
I can’t imagine where I would be now if I had just let go of everything and followed my heart before my grandmother had passed away. How much happier we would have been.
But I am here now, Metro Detroit Mommy. Our family is happier, and I am happier than I could have ever imagined.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Meet Amber, a busy work-at-home mom to four fantastic kids: Damian (27), Rosaleigh (15), Carlyn (12), and Naomi (9)! 🌟 When she’s not running Metro Detroit Mommy, she loves to dive into creative projects like drawing, photography, and crafting, or unwind with some gardening, reading, and meditation. 🌿🎨📸
Amber cherishes the moments she gets to spend with her kids and feels incredibly fortunate to provide them with endless opportunities and experiences through her work. She’s also on a personal journey, focusing on improving her emotional health every day. 💖✨
Life is full, fun, and always an adventure with Amber and her crew! 🎉