Empty Nest

[jen28f]

I am feeling so down! I have 2 boys, 14 months apart, and they are now both gone to college. They even decided to room together, which is nice, but it is soooo quiet here and I am just soooo sad every time I walk by their bedrooms!
I am trying to keep busy, but how has anyone else who has gone through this dealt with it?

 

[SudokuGal]

No, I haven't (I don't have kids.) But I did want to give you a virtual {{{{{HUG}}}}}.

 

[Poldara]

That day is in the distant future for me, my daughter is only 3 year old, but a BIG HUG from me too.

 

[Mary Kay]

I love my kids very much..but i did a happy dance when son left to live on his own..I had to move to St. Cloud and leave daughter behind to get rid of her! LOL I am of the mind that you raise your childern to leave the nest not to keep them!
Besides they will rebound on you enough times over the years to keep you happy. Don't repurpose the room just yet!
I am of course teasing you, I do understand the empty nest feeling and hope you fill your life with things you have always wanted to try or learn to fill the void.
((Hugz)) from me too!

 

[Jennee26]

When I first moved out, my mom told me I had six months to move back in. After that my room would be transformed. Well....It was transformed in THREE months. She couldn't wait that long. About 2 years after that I moved to TX. 800 miles from home.

 

[jen28f]

Thanks you all made me feel better. I left home at 15, my mother and I had a very poor relationship. My x left 3 years ago so it was just me and the boys and also my house was the one that all the kids hung out at. I never minded it and always liked that I knew where my kids were. On a typical night, there were at least 4-5 boys here inc my kids....they chased bats and went downstairs to see what a noise was, and all those things that men of the house do....But now there is no one going in and out, and it feels weird knowing I am the only one in the house. Maybe if I were not all by myself it would not seem so bad...plus I have no family here.
I am moving, as I no longer have any reason to stay here, so once I get on the road it will be better. Just the few first days, knowing my little one is in college (OMG!) is tough. At 39, I can't quite believe it.

 

[BARENETTED]

I am feeling so down! I have 2 boys, 14 months apart, and they are now both gone to college. They even decided to room together, which is nice, but it is soooo quiet here and I am just soooo sad every time I walk by their bedrooms!
I am trying to keep busy, but how has anyone else who has gone through this dealt with it?

Jen - I was divorced years ago. Both of my daughters went out on their own within months of each other. The silence was deafening. I was devastated and depressed. It took a while, but I got so used to it, I can't imagine it any other way.

 

[lashmn]

It's been a number of years now but we drove my son up to University of Florida and stayed a couple of days to get him and his friends settled in. As soon as we pulled away from him, I started to sob and did so all the way to Sarasota (about 3 hours). He is my one and only and were quite close.

Gradually, things got better and better and we became very acclimated to being empty nesters. He did come back after college for a couple of years and I had to go through the whole thing again when he moved to the Tampa area. Now we have settled into a nice routine of weekly calls and occasional visits and he's one of my best friends.

After all, he is almost the same age as I am (in spirit).

Things DO get better, I promise!

Lynn

 

[jen28f]

It's been a number of years now but we drove my son up to University of Florida and stayed a couple of days to get him and his friends settled in. As soon as we pulled away from him, I started to sob and did so all the way to Sarasota (about 3 hours). He is my one and only and were quite close.

Gradually, things got better and better and we became very acclimated to being empty nesters. He did come back after college for a couple of years and I had to go through the whole thing again when he moved to the Tampa area. Now we have settled into a nice routine of weekly calls and occasional visits and he's one of my best friends.

After all, he is almost the same age as I am (in spirit).

Things DO get better, I promise!

Lynn

Thanks, Lynn. He im'd me a little bit ago that he is going to come home this coming weekend. i am not sure that is a great thing, as it will make it harder eveyr time he leaves, but when I just answered "ok" he came back with "aren't you happy?" so of course i told him i am jumping up and down with joy. but really, it will be even harder but i cant resist seeing him. I will be moved out wihtin 2 weeks so it wil be our last time togehter in this house we have lived in for 14 years.

 

[Mary Kay]

Jen, feeling better? I sure hope so. The move will be good for you, staying busy will help. New scenery and new surroundings will lift your sprits and hopefully jump start your creativity. Keep us posted.