The other day I found myself compelled to take a ride west to the Everglades and take pictures of the Sunset.  When I thought about why I was there, I realized that it was a place I often go to think and clear my head when things in my life are changing.  Years ago, when I was going through a divorce, I spent many evenings there, watching the gators and the sun, feeling comfort in the size, scope and life of the massive marshland.  So what is changing now?  My nest is yet another step toward empty.  Today my oldest son closed on his first home and will be moving from under my roof, to a roof of his very own.

Pride And Prejudice

While I am enormously proud of my son and his accomplishments, and his hard work and dedication to be able to leverage a buyer’s market and become a homeowner at age 22, I am also selfishly sad.  His giant leap toward independence is a small step toward my own changing role as a parent.  As he winds up for the start of his adult life, I am forced to acknowledge that one phase of fatherhood, for me, is winding down.  His sunrise. My sunset.

Fiddling Around

In keeping with the Sunrise, Sunset theme, some lyrics from the classic song from one of my childhood Broadway favorites comes to mind.  From “FIDDLER ON THE ROOF” and the song, “Sunrise, Sunset”:

Is this the little girl I carried,
Is this the little boy at play?

I don’t remember growing older,
When did they?

When did she get to be a beauty,
When did he grow to be so tall?

Wasn’t it yesterday when they were small?

Trust me, it won’t be long until you too will be asking yourself these very questions.  Have you noticed how fast your kids are growing up???

Jeff Sass is the proud dad of ZEO (Zach, 22, Ethan, 20 and Olivia, 19).  He is also a seasoned entertainment and technology exec and active social media enthusiast.  You can see more of Jeff’s writing at Sassholes! and Social Networking Rehab and you can listen to Jeff on the Cast of Dads podcast.??