It was fine... it is the object of the game after all...

...was quite satisfying to see them independent and to be reminded of the energy and optimism of youth... you know, that I once had! Yes there will be mistakes made, guide advise and support, don't smother.

one can offset the void with some me, or us time. For example A vacation without the kids for the first time in a couple decades can be quite liberating! Resume that long forgotten hobby or try a new one.

But be warned! The nest tends to refill soon enough... now with 8 Grandkids and 2 Great Grandkids and all the connected babysitting, taxi service, kids sports games to attend etc. I still relish all the quite time I get.

While not completely empty, we have one at college and one a year away. In my opinion it is not the empty nest that causes the split. The problems either exist or do not exist prior to the nest emptying. We still very much enjoy each other’s company, and will soon have time to travel together. I travel quite extensively for work, and never have much time to enjoy the perks of all my travel. It is a stage we both look forward to even though we will miss having the kids around.

It was awesome!

We were very sad when our oldest moved out.

No so much for the middle daughter because she was attending the same out of state college as here older sister + she was swimming in college so had a instant family.

When the youngest moved out, very sad but we adjusted. My wife and Inspend a lot of time together now, gym early in the morning, reading to each other, yard work...my best friend.

We love it when they come home to visit but, after about a week, itnis time fornthem to leave.

The youngest is here now on Spring Break, leaves tomorrow. He graduates in May and will commission as a 2nd Lt. in the Army.

Sucks. I have to take the garbage out and cut the grass.

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Huffman:
I love it. If only my son would stay out. He's in and out about once every couple of months.

Fill his room with concrete

When the grandkids come for a week long visit the void is filled. By the end of the week you start to realize you have become accustomed to the peace and quiet in the house and you are ready for them to go home to Mom and Dad.

I wish............father in law moved IN........the nest is filling up

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Huffman:
I love it. If only my son would stay out. He's in and out about once every couple of months.

Fill his room with concrete

Naked Room!!!

We had a going away celebration AFTER they left. Some clarification, "they" refers to daughter and S-I-L.

quote:

Originally posted by SpinZone:
It was AWESOME?

^^^^^ This. Kids are both gainfully employed, own homes, one has a great (2nd) wife. We love not having to always set the example; time is our own.

Absolutely awesome. In her late teens and early twenty's my daughter was a party gal and did not take well to the lectures from her mother. She moved out around 19 I think.

She is now almost 31, a single mom, and we see her and our granddaughter every single weekend. She is my best friend and her and mom have never been closer. Sometimes it just takes a little time.

Terrible/awesome: Daughter went off to college in '06 when she walked out that door. Took two weeks for us to recover from that. Lost our son in '08 at 24. God got us through that. HE is so good and we know Matthew is with Him. BTW, ironic that tomorrow would have been our sons birthday. Daughter came home from college in '09 and three weeks later said she was moving to Tennessee and we said "cool, go get em girl". Always been independent and self reliant and is now successful and is truly Blessed. In '2012, retired, wife and I moved here to Tennessee and love it. Everything is fantastic. Buying a new home that is a blessing. Empty nest is great and sometimes we go through things in life but God gets you through them.
Just wanted to encourage all who get ready to go through this. Enjoy it and count your blessings.
Sorry, if I ranted too much.

My wife and I are starting to talk about this as our youngest is 15 and already prepping for college.
It will be bittersweet

I had sorta thought this "empty nest" thing might happen to us, even if substantially delayed by most people's standard (my now-youngest is five) but now that my wife is pregnant, and I'm 53, I don't thing it's happening in my lifetime, lol.

We had no sense of "loss" when our kids moved out, each after they finished high school. There have been some bumps and bruises, but they are all responsible adults, all live out of state.

There is some angst with the grandkids. We don't get to see them enough. Facetime is great.

Considering that my folks gave me a set of dishes for the Christmas before I was to graduate from high school, I think they probably handled the "empty nest" thing pretty well.