Jump to Recipe

As a tired young mom, I used to daydream about someday.

Someday…

• The kids will let me have a minute alone — maybe even when I’m in the bathroom.
• They won’t chatter endlessly about everything… all… day… long.
• They won’t wake up at the crack of dawn — often before the sun even thought about it.
• They won’t keep me up half the night needing water, snacks, or one more story.
• I’ll finally get to have a real adult conversation again.
• And five days a week of soccer will turn into never sitting in the pouring rain for hours on end.

Now, as a much older mom and a proud empty nester, I look back on those days with such fondness. While I was deep in the trenches back then, I didn’t realize how fleeting those moments would be. The house was loud, messy, and chaotic… but it was also full of life.

I blinked — and suddenly the kids were moving out, chasing dreams, getting married, and having babies of their own. Here today and gone tomorrow, as the saying goes. I smile now, knowing that even with all my imperfections, I helped raise some pretty amazing humans.

The Road From Teacher To Student

Parenthood is a long, winding road with more detours than you expect. I thought once the kids were grown, I’d stop worrying about them — ha! The truth is, I sometimes worry even more now than I did when they lived under our roof.

We always knew we wanted kids, and from the moment they were placed in our arms, we felt the joy (and fear!) of that responsibility. But let’s be honest — that endless well of patience I thought I’d have? Total fairy tale.

Now that our kids are grown, they don’t need help tying their shoes or brushing their teeth. They don’t want unsolicited advice either (imagine that!). It’s humbling to realize that, as a parent, I don’t have all the answers — and never did. I’m learning that even now, I’ve still got growing to do.

Lessons My Kids Are Teaching Me

1. Let Them Play Hookey Once in a While.

My daughters have taught me that it’s okay to let kids skip school once in a blue moon — grab doughnuts or go to the park just because. I used to worry about missed “learning time.” Now I see that the real lessons happen in those little moments of joy.

2. Let Them Figure It Out.

I’ve watched my kids handle challenges — in marriage, work, and parenting — with grace and grit. I still have the urge to ride in on my white horse to fix things, but I’m learning to stand back, support quietly, and trust they’ve got this.

3. They’ve Learned From My Mistakes

My kids have taught me about forgiveness and grace. They know I did my best, even when I fell short. Each generation gets a little better — learning from the one before.

4. Let Them Build Their Own Traditions

I never expected that my grown kids (and their spouses!) would start new family traditions. But watching those take shape has been a beautiful thing. Turns out, it’s not about losing our old ways — it’s about seeing love expressed in new ones.

5. Conversations Don’t Always Need a Moral

Not every chat has to be a life lesson. Sometimes we just need to talk about nothing — and that’s where connection really grows.

6. Stay Curious Not Correct

Instead of trying to prove I’m right, and that Mother Knows Best, I’m learning to truly listen. Even when we don’t agree, I come away having learned something — and knowing my kids a little better.

7. They’re Smarter Than I Am (and I Love That)

When they were little, I had all the answers (or so I thought). Now, I often go to them for advice — about life, technology, even relationships. They remind me to slow down, savour the small stuff, and stop waiting for the “big” moments to be happy.

So yes, the teacher has become the student — and I couldn’t be prouder.

I’d love to hear from you — what lessons are your kids teaching you these days?

And because no post of mine feels complete without something from the kitchen… let’s talk comfort food for a minute.

Whenever I find myself reflecting on life — the growing pains, the laughter, the nostalgia — I always end up in the kitchen. It’s my happy place, where I can stir, bake, and remember all those family dinners that once filled our house with noise and love.

This Can’t-Be-Beat Salmon Loaf is one of those recipes that’s stood the test of time in our family. It’s humble, hearty, and somehow tastes like home — the kind of meal that brings you back to those simpler days when the kids were young, dinner was at 5:30, and the chaos was deliciously familiar.

So here it is, from my kitchen to yours — a classic recipe that’s every bit as comforting as the memories that inspired it.