About the Author

Now graduated from her role as a homeschooling mom of 8, Dawn Camp devotes her time and love of stories to writing her first novel. She enjoys movie nights, cups of Earl Grey, and cheering on the Braves. She and her husband navigate an ever-emptying nest in the Atlanta suburbs.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. “ One day they’ll know the truth we all learn: there are seasons that nothing but the grace of God and the unconditional love of family will carry us through.”
    I love this! And so true.

  2. When our youngest graduated I had many of the same feelings you’ve expressed. I had home schooled her for 9 yrs, attended countless soccer games in all kinds of weather, and watched her navigate her senior year as a college student doing post-secondary courses. I ugly cried at the last soccer game, but did much better at graduation. She went off to a Christian university and it was hard experiencing the “not-knowing” of who her friends were, what’s she doing today at this moment, but at the same time my husband & I had raised her for this. She is now 31 living in a state many miles away from us and not walking as closely with God as I thought she would be at this time in her life, but I have learned to put her in God’s hands. My prayers include Philippians 1:6 and Isaiah 59:21. God is faithful!

  3. I, too, will be graduating my baby this May! I homeschooled both of my kids, one graduated in 2020, and then my last will be a month away. I am sad, but I also think we are ready for a new season. All of us. God gifted me with a part time job two years ago and it has been a big help in me finding my role in the season to come. I am just waiting on this sadness to come crashing down on me, because of right now, we are just like, “Let’s do this!”. Thank you for this, it is very relatable to me. God’s grace and strength will carry us into the next chapter of our lives.

  4. The year I graduated my youngest was one of the hardest years of my life. In fact, it took me several years after to come to terms with it. But, in addition to my son graduating that year, he also went into the military so I went from seeing him all the time to not being able to even speak with him for 4 months, spending holidays without him, etc. This same year I lost my Mom who was my best friend, sounding board, mentor, design consultant, etc., and I was all of those things to her. I’d like to say the years got easier but that would not be true. The difficulty of life keeps cycling through like the change of seasons. I have learned though that it’s okay to not be okay. I am still trying to get the hang of having the joy of the Lord and not feeling joyful. I am starting to understand it more and more. I am so thankful for His grace. Practicing/showing gratitude is my daily goal, it helps me get through the times when I feel don’t have the answers for the hard stuff (also a recovering control freak). I am praying for you, Dawn.

  5. My kids are ten years apart so I’ve been through it all once and know it isn’t easy. Our youngest graduates this year and it is too bittersweet. Our son went to college 8 hours away and our daughter has chosen the same school.
    I won’t be able to visit her for lunches or go shopping with her like I would have had she picked a school closer to home. Thankfully we have FaceTime!
    I am going to miss her piles of crafts, the clothes she leaves lying around, her shoes I trip on in the kitchen, and mostly being her sounding board with good and bad experiences. I’m grateful my kids talk to me about Everything, despite that being difficult sometimes. I pray that continues when she moves onto college…
    My sister asked me what I’m going to do when she graduates, haha!
    I know for sure I’m going to visit my grandkids more since I won’t have my weekends full of her activities. I’ll pick up some hobbies I stopped when she was born and I was trying to raise the kids and work. I’ll visit her and call her and miss her like crazy but this is life. Change is inevitable so I’m going to try and embrace it and look for the good with Gods grace.

  6. I graduate my youngest this year as well and unlike his sister, he is moving farther away for college. I’m looking forward to having a little more me time, but I’m definitely going to miss the running we do for extracurricular activities. I just pray I’ve done my best.

    • Melissa, God has a plan for your child and you’ve done (and will continue to do) your part. Rest in that and enjoy your me time!

  7. My youngest graduated last year. I watched my sisters kids grow and move out and what they went through as empty nesters and I thought I will never be like that. It’s very hard in the beginning. Your whole life is turned upside down. It’s hard just living as a couple again because you are a completely different couple now then when you first got married. But you adapt and grow and your new life is beautiful again. I have always said cherish your children at every age because we only have them for a short time. Enjoy each stage even those turbulent teen years. When they leave for college or a new job, you see a toddler walking away from you, but when they come home you see the young adult they have become and are so proud.

  8. Dawn,

    Congratulations on raising & homeschooling children. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 states it best There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

    Everyone goes through seasons of life. From 2007 till 2018 I was a caretaker for my parents & in-laws. Then that suddenly stopped. No more doctors appointments, hospital visits, etc. I prayed & God gave me a good part-time job that has turned into a full-time position–one I don’t really like. The holidays are the hardest for me. Most people talk about getting together with family. Hubby & I no longer have any family close by. Add to that our pets both died in those times. Lately I have no one to take care of or worry about. Trying to figure life out. God will see us all through these times.

    Blessings 🙂