The Dog Days Are Over

The term  Dog Days refers to the hottest, and most sultry days of summer. In the Northern Hemisphere they usually  occur between July and September. The name comes from the ancient belief that Sirius, The Dog Star, in its close proximity to the sun was responsible for the hot weather. Here in Los Angeles the Dog Days arrived early this year. This past weekend the temperatures hit triple digits in the inland areas. Yet the beaches were blanketed by a thick marine layer and the sun didn't shine through until mid afternoon. That's the dichotomy of our region. Sort of like the boomerang effect on our proverbial nest. We parents prepare, the kids leave. We adjust, they return. Our routines have changed. The once ritual family dinner hour has morphed into a more casual affair- maybe a last minute decision to eat out, maybe cheese, crackers and wine and a Netflix movie. Their routine of college life has most definitely changed. Living back at the family home means responsibilities to the parents- a text to notify us of the ever changing evening plans, dishes put away and quieter voices late at night. Our schedules don't always sync- late nights for them, early mornings for us. But as topsy turvy as it is, the energy they bring into the home is a blessing- the laughter, the conversations and even the laundry fill our nest and that's something we love.
The Empty Nesters will be speaking with novelist Sarah Bird about her just released book, The Gap Year. The novel  provides a soulful portrait of that awkward, exhilarating and bittersweet point in a mother’s relationship with her child — the time to let go. We have an advance copy to give away to a reader. Just leave a comment on the blog and you'll be eligible to win this book which Good Housekeeping magazines has put on its list of great summer reads.