The Beginning of the End

I just dropped Jonathan off for his first day of work.  As he walked into the local grocery/gas station I thought, 'it's the beginning of the end.'  His first job, his first step towards real independence and my first "little boy"  growing up.  

Once they have a job, it's a lot harder  to tell them what they can't have.  After all, now they can pay for it themselves.  But I have gotten smarter over the past few years.  We have a new house rule:  If you buy 'it', you must save the same amount you spend on 'it' in the bank and you must tithe 10% of the cost of 'it' to your church or favorite charity.  This way I figure, I won't have the 'work to spend' problem I've been noticing.  

I guess I'm thinking a lot about the beginning of the end.  We dropped Tim off for his first year of college this past weekend.  Tim is 20.  I am of the opinion that 20 year old males should NOT live at home.  Even mother lionesses agree with me!    Don't get me wrong.  Timothy is a great guy.  Fun, intelligent, a creative thinker and he's been super helpful this past year since the his sisters have been gone.  But, there is just something about the adult male psyche and moms that don't mix so well.  

I'm looking forward to seeing my "boys" grown into men.  I believe in them and I know God has a plan for them.  It's the getting there that has me worried!