The Empty Nest

[Colorado2026]

It sounds silly, but when our youngest and DS left for I Day I promised myself I would go back to school. Get a degree. Check the box. Unbeknownst to me, his older midsib decided the same.

It is a minor thing but she and I will receive our associates degree side by side this May. From the same community college. On the same stage.
I can’t lie, as low a bar as it is, knowing we both set a goal and did it matters. And we randomly will achieve it together.

Empty nesting opens doors. And makes one eternally grateful for decades of memories and love.

That is definitely not a low bar. That is a great accomplishment and a great story! Congratulations!

 

[TBVADAD]

Thanks everyone for sharing. I think I've (we) finally started to adjust. Our oldest moved to Texas last summer. About a month later his brother went off to college. Suddenly all my boys were gone.

We still have DD at home. but you get the feeling of how it will be. I got new hobbies now. I think at first it was being able to sleep wondering if they were Ok.

 

[AF6872]

Crap: Have some Red Cross moron come into your Hooch and tell you to write your Mother. Great with the rest of the Guys.

 

[AF6872]

USO was a lot better, and you didn't have to pay for the stamps.

 

[AF6872]

Also try Abbots in Noank . Lobster in the rough hard to find down some winding roads but worth the drive.

 

[Day-Tripper]

I think the cat in the cradle feeling is probably pretty universal for parents as they face their children entering adulthood and reflect on missed opportunities. I certainly had that, looking back on things I missed as the kids grew up. Some of them due to the nature of my job in law enforcement, others due to choices I made as I built a career. Over winter break of DS' senior year of college, we took a family vacation and rented a house near in beach in SoCal. It was a fantastic time. First trip with both kids as adults and we didn't have to be "parents". we were able to relax and just enjoy each other. Listening to the kids' childhood memories as we played games together, I realized DW and I didn't do it perfect, but we did okay and the kids felt like they had a good childhood. Topper for me was DS and I taking the dog for a walk on the beach. Stopped at a local brewery for some to-go refreshments. Had a long talk as we walked, about his excitement and his fears as he moved towards commissioning. He told me that he admired me and I was his role model. Said he admired the way I looked out for those I was responsible for and worked to make them successful. For me, that was the highest praise possible, those words from my son. Excuse me, my allergies are acting up as I type this.

Yeah, those seasonal allergies are a killer. Sniff sniff.

 

[QA1517]

Empty nest will be full for a bit.

DS has decided to resign his commission in the national guard after 10 years of drilling. He said he has absolutely no regrets and got something way different and beneficial out of it that what he expected going in. He readily admits that without his military experience he would be no where close to where he is at professionally. His new job weighing heavily on his leadership experience and organizational skills.

He and his wife along with 9 month old are moving to our corner of the state. Selling there current house, buying a new one and both starting new jobs. So for about 3 weeks they will be calling our upstairs home until they close on their new home.

Empty nests aren't really empty, they're just temporarily unoccupied.