You, Me and the Dog

On our recent short break to Tenby, I saw a picture in a shop window. It was just some framed words ‘You, Me and the Dog’. It was a bit tacky really. Not quite Live, Laugh, Love, but probably not a million miles off. But I couldn’t get it out of my head. Because it was literally you, me and the dog on holiday. Our first holiday with just myself, my husband and Hetty.

And this is our life going forward.

My daughter, my youngest child, has done her A Levels. She will be going to university in September.

My eldest, who is 23 and chose to do an apprenticeship rather than go to university, moved into a rented flat with his girlfriend a few weeks ago.

Life going forward will be just you, me and the dog.

My husband and I are very happy together. And Hetty has brought so much joy to our lives.

But our lives for the past 23 years have been all about the kids. Our house has always been full. You’re never alone when you’ve got three kids. Everything we’ve done, everywhere we’ve been, it’s always been for the kids and with the kids.

And at the end of the summer that will all change.

I found my younger son going to university really hard. I knew I would, but it was actually harder than I expected. I know it will be hard when my daughter goes too.

Will it be less hard because I’ve been through it once before and know more what to expect? Or will it be more hard because she’s the last one and will be leaving an empty house, not to mention that she is much more affectionate than her brothers?

All I know is that I’m dreading it. But it’s going to happen and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. Life is moving on to the next stage.

So I bought the You, Me and the Dog picture to mark the next stage in our journey as a family.

I’m pleased that my husband was fine with me buying it, even though it’s slightly tacky. I think he understood my reasons.

My daughter was actually a bit insulted by it. She thought it meant that Hetty was more important than her. But it’s not that at all. It’s the exact opposite. It is because she is very important to me. It is about me trying to come to terms with her leaving, however hard it will be for me.

I’m lucky that my husband and I are happy together. And I’m lucky that we’ve got a wonderful dog who makes us happy. But I will always be happiest when my house is full of my grown up kids.