I've decided that the second phase of life (baby boomers stage) can be very weird at times.  Last week I was feeling down because my mom was headed back to Florida and she wasn't doing well health wise.  I did not want her to leave but knew that I had to let her go.  Now I am facing my daughter leaving again in a few days (she's headed back to college) and I'm feeling that same sense of sadness. 

Until now, I have never been so acutely aware of both roles at the same time.  We're the child for many years and then we become adults and move into the role of the parent when we have children.  And we tend to feel the role that is in the forefront at the time; the child when we're younger; the parent when we're older.  I know this is a normal progression of the aging process but it feels weird to be both parent and child at the same time. 

Being the person that I am though, I'll let myself feel the sadness and then I will focus on the upside of both situations.  I'll thank God that I still have my mom whether she's in Florida or not.  We are able to talk on the phone, email and share pictures through our family page.  I'll also thank God that my daughter has the opportunity to attend a great college, experience the different cultures that city life offers and that she can be home within a matter of hours.  And I'll continue to be in awe of the transformations, role reversals and other changes that occur as I go through the second phase.