Empty Nesters?? Soon to be one :(

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dargytaylor
dargytaylor Posts: 840 Member
in Motivation and Support
My youngest son is a senior in HS.........then college bound in the Fall of 2012. Where the heck did the last 18 years go?!?

I have 3 'children'....oldest son is 23 and lives in Florida; middle son is a junior at the University of New Hamphire; and now the youngest is gearing up to leave :cry:

What have other Empty Nesters done with their time when all the kids have flown the coop?!?

Replies

  • Laura_Ivy
    Laura_Ivy Posts: 555 Member
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    Congrats on raising such productive individuals...all of them are/went to college... that's frigging amazing!!

    Take on a new sport or hobby...something just for you! I hope someday my kids are good kids like yours. :)
  • sharonsjones
    sharonsjones Posts: 574 Member
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    I love it!! My baby is 18 and moved out a few weeks ago. My husand and I are spending so much time together and act like newly weds. :wink: We don't have to worry about anything but just the two of us.

    Don't ge me wrong I miss my baby, but I love the time my husand and I get now. I have had kids since I was 16, I feel like I'm in my second childhood.
  • TrailRunner61
    TrailRunner61 Posts: 2,505 Member
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    I decided to walk 1,000 miles for St. Jude!
  • jconnon
    jconnon Posts: 427 Member
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    I love it!! My baby is 18 and moved out a few weeks ago. My husand and I are spending so much time together and act like newly weds. :wink: We don't have to worry about anything but just the two of us.

    Don't ge me wrong I miss my baby, but I love the time my husand and I get now. I have had kids since I was 16, I feel like I'm in my second childhood.

    I am jealous, only one of the five is gone and she could return anytime.
  • Dayna154
    Dayna154 Posts: 910 Member
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    I miss them but live my life for me now.. and the new grandbaby... I love it!!
  • tbresina
    tbresina Posts: 558 Member
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    I used to feel bad about saying this but I did a little jig when my 3 boys flew the nest. It is the way it should be, a new chapter! We spend so long being there for someone else and now it was our time to enjoy "our" life. Luckily all 3 live in the same city and we see them weekly but now it is on a diff level, actually more enjoyable! My hubby and I got to reconnect too, we go our often and take lil mini vacay that is geared towards us and not what our children might like. I now have a 6 mo old grandson and life couldn't be better-the circle of life!
  • alison2429
    alison2429 Posts: 236 Member
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    Both my beautiful girls went to university the year before last (now in their second year). Hubby and I love it! House tidy, food in the fridge. Great.

    It's lovely to see them when they come home but also lovely when they go back!!

    Make the most of it.
    x
  • mznisaelaine
    mznisaelaine Posts: 2,262 Member
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    My mom and dad is alone now that all three of us are out. My younger brother (19 almost 20) and I (22 years old) are away at college. I'm a senior and my brother is a sophomore and we are 4-8 hours away from home and my older brother (25 years old) got married last year and literally live 15 minutes away from my parents ..... And my parents are still having a hard time their children has grown up... Especially my dad... :(. .... :)
  • annscotslass
    annscotslass Posts: 7 Member
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    My youngest went to Uni last autumn and I love it. Its just me and the cat, and we please ourselves. I have bought a treadmill this week and it is in the living room, cos it can!! I please myself at mealtimes and actually am on a diet where all the food is delivered and as i am only cooking for one - it works well for me. Embrace the fact you will have a new lease of life and enjoy it
    ANn (UK)
  • SmallerBecky
    SmallerBecky Posts: 177
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    I can't believe I could have been an empty nester in five years...but then I had two MORE kids so now it's 15 years away! I really look forward to it! I still have a lot of living left to do OF MY OWN after the kids leave me! :D
  • Hoppymom
    Hoppymom Posts: 1,158 Member
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    I started eating healthy and going to the gym. I also just opened a Facebook account to keep in touch with extented family and old friends. I live for the week-ends when we can all get together. I go to the same gym as my second (of four, ages 23-34). My youngest stops by to watch football with my husband and my third is moving back in around May or June for grad school and then will be gone again in a year. The oldest drives the 2 hours about once a month and we go down there as well. (grandkids are worth the drive) Tonight we begin finishing off the basement of my second child's new house. Youngest will be there to learn and help. We are having a big extended family gathering at a casino about two house away this weekend. we will all be there. You just have to find ways to connect whether it is meeting half way or texting or skyping. Find ways to connect outside your family too. It is important to develop your own strengths and interests too.
    Someone mentioned taking time for you relationship with your significant other. If you don't have one maybe it's time to indulge yourself.
  • cmeade20
    cmeade20 Posts: 1,238 Member
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    I get the feeling my mom can't wait for me to move out lol
  • juliedee6
    juliedee6 Posts: 46 Member
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    I go to the gym 4 mornings a week, and am there for about 2 hours. I volunteer in my granddaughter's classroom. I'm involved in a Bible study. I am involved in several ministries at my church. I am considering volunteering to be a mentor for at-risk youth. There are dozens of organizations that would love your help. Perhaps there is a volunteer center in your town that can inform you of opportunities. All these years, your identity has been wound up in your children. It is mentally healthy for you to shift that focus, and there is nothing more rewarding than helping others (and not expecting to be paid for it.)
  • Sabresgal63
    Sabresgal63 Posts: 641 Member
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    Ha! I ended up getting (2) more..................lol!:bigsmile:
  • dargytaylor
    dargytaylor Posts: 840 Member
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    Thanks Ladies!! I just get on the woe is me wagon once in a while :laugh:

    YES! My leftovers will actually still be in the fridge when I go to take them for lunch the next day!! LOL

    It will definatley be 'us' time................he has outside activities (coaches basketball; plays basketball) so now it's time for ME to find some extra-curriculars
  • dargytaylor
    dargytaylor Posts: 840 Member
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    Congrats on raising such productive individuals...all of them are/went to college... that's frigging amazing!!

    Take on a new sport or hobby...something just for you! I hope someday my kids are good kids like yours. :)

    Thank you! They are great kids to have, but I am a bit biased i guess :smile:

    I would say.....Do you want a good job? Make good money? Not struggle like me? Then GO TO COLLEGE!! Very proud of all 3 of them
  • SabrinaJL
    SabrinaJL Posts: 1,579 Member
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    My one and only turns 18 next week. Sometimes I dread the day she leaves, sometimes I feel like it can't come soon enough.
  • bas1955
    bas1955 Posts: 29 Member
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    We have 6 kids from 19-38, and thought it was going to be tough to be empty nesters. Each of the kids went on their own at just the right time, and 5 are now married to great spouses, and we have 9 grandkids. We've found that now we have the time to finish figuring out who WE are. 1st half of life all about being defined by others, 2nd half about defining ourselves. Lots of creative energy put on hold for years is now being unleashed. My wife continues college one class at a time, and has recently gotten involved as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) working with a child removed from her family. All in all, a great time of life, and great new opportunities, not the least of which is working on our weight ;-)

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