On December 27, my family gathered with five families whose daughters had grown up together, to honor our families’ transitions to “empty nests”. With the girls heading out into the world, all of us were aware of a transition for the parents as well as our young adult daughters. It was a sweet evening of friendship, including a brief ceremony. Each young woman received a tree, symbolic of her new home, with notes from friends adorning each tree, and a personal note from her parents. Parents received an empty nest, with a note from their daughter, and a heart-shaped stone symbolic of the love always there. The parents, family and friends also blessed those leaving home — an ancient tradition overlooked in our modern western culture. And then there was a celebration, with food and live music. Comments from our guests included, “I’ve never been to an event like this before.” Why have we lost touch with acknowledging important transitions? Other than weddings and funerals, most of us rarely bring ceremonies into our lives. For the sake of our families, let’s honor and bless those moments when we cross a threshold to a new relationship.
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