Twenty and Twenty-three

🌸 Twenty, Twenty-three

A reflection on youth, love, and the seasons of family life.

Love in Youth, Seen Through a Parent’s Eyes

Love in youth is always fresh and radiant. At twenty and twenty-three, two young hearts are drawn together, while a parent watches with both worry and a quiet smile. In each season of life, our stories intertwine.

Street mural in Korea — symbolizing the freshness of youth and the connection between generations

The Season of His Youth

This year, my youngest son graduated from college and moved back home. Suddenly, I found myself cooking again. When it was just my husband and me, simple dishes were enough. But at twenty-three, his appetite demanded more — rice, meat, snacks, even protein shakes.

My older son and daughter already live on their own, and even cooking for my husband sometimes feels like a chore. But here I am again, back in my role as a mother. I tell him, “Make your own food,” but aside from scrambled eggs and fried Spam, his cooking skills go no further — so I remain tied to the kitchen for now.

When He Fell in Love

By early summer, my son began coming home late. One day, he finally confessed — he had a girlfriend. At twenty-three and twenty, they were young, tender, and full of spring energy. Soon, he brought her home, and laughter began to fill the living room again. Part of me worried — he still felt so young. A quieter part wished he would meet someone older, already settled in life. But then I reminded myself — they’re simply twenty and twenty-three. So I quietly turned off my “mother-in-law mode.”

Street mural symbolizing young love observed from a gentle parental perspective

Let Them Love, Let Me Remember

They aren’t talking about marriage — only love. And who am I to stand in the way of that? Love isn’t something to calculate. I don’t want my children to live inside the boundaries of my plans.

So love, my son — freely, beautifully, fearlessly. Cherish this gift that youth has placed in your hands. The spring of youth is always short and never returns.

The Seasons We Each Live

We each live in the seasons of our own lives. I live mine, my son lives his, and my aging parents live theirs. Even my hardened heart softens, stirred by the fragrance of young love — enough to smile again. 🌱


🍃 Life Seasons Series

Stories about family, love, and time — how generations share one continuous season of life.

#LifeSeasons #InnerJourney #JaclynBae #FamilyEssays #SeasonsOfLove

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