Empty Nest Sadness Stuff About This Page:

[tikibird]

Okay, I am thrilled that Craig is going to the WDW College Program in less than 3 weeks now.

But I am really, really, really SAD. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] I just kind of want to sleep and am tired all the time.

I guess it's part of that bittersweet part of watching your children grow up and leave the nest. I'll still have Chris here, and I know he will just be a phone call away, and I know this is an incredible opportunity for him that he will benefit in so many ways.


But I'm still sad. [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

I'm trying to console myself by making plans for dinner at Artist Point after I drop him off, but it's not working.


Would love to hear from others that have gone through, or are going through this. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[joyjoy]

Sandy: I know how you feel. [img]graemlins/pout.gif[/img]

It didn't hit me until everyone was getting all excited about getting their advance child tax credit in the mail. I went to the IRS.gov site to see when MY check would be mailed, and was surprised to see this was only for children born 1986 and later, and my kid is 1985. It hit me then - my baby is going to be 18 this year. She'll be graduating in May and leaving me. We have been so, so close her whole life and now she's LEAVING? On top of that, I'll be taking about a $600 per month cut in income (no more child support) so I won't even be able to stay in this house. I have to move. I have been very down about the whole thing, too. I feel like hugging her every time I see her. She is fortunately sensitive to all this so she's being really sweet to me. I never thought I'd feel like this, I always thought it would be a good thing. I was wrong. [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img]

[Tara O'Hara]

Tiki, as you know, I am going through exactly the same thing!! [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img] I am so proud of Sean and all that he has accomplished thus far, yet I am incredibly sad that he will be leaving in three weeks for Temple University. [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] Even if he comes home after he leaves, it won't be the same! I already miss him. I even think I will miss doing his laundry!! Muffin doesn't understand either. I guess it's a Mom thing. [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img]

[DisneyNutMary]

Tiki,
I can't say I know how you feel, because I don't.
I hope it helps you to know that this is an awesome opportunity for your son. And we are here to help pick you up when you feel down.

[LuvMK]

Ya'll wait until you get the first phone call from those boys after they leave - they will be SO excited about their new adventures that you won't be able to feel sad anymore! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Signed,

Someone who's oldest left home 4 years ago

[joyjoy]

Omg. I just read over these posts and mine sounds like I'm using Jordie as some kinda cash cow. (no tax refund, no child support). I hope nobody thought that. I only meant that one thing brought it all home that she wasn't a "child" anymore and the other thing was just another lifestyle change I'm going to have to deal with. Anyway, Tara, Terri, Sandy? We should start a support group. I was talking to Jordie just tonight about this upcoming trip to WDW and how special it is to me because our lives will be so different soon and it won't be just Mommy picking when we go on vacation. It's all so surreal to me. [img]graemlins/pout.gif[/img]

Your thing is coming up soon, Sandy. Please know you'll be in my prayers.

(Is it beneath you to grab his legs as you are dropping him off, fall to the ground and beg "Please don't go!! Please stay! Mommy NEEDS you!!"? Yeah. Probably so.) [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[tikibird]

Originally posted by joyjoy:


(Is it beneath you to grab his legs as you are dropping him off, fall to the ground and beg "Please don't go!! Please stay! Mommy NEEDS you!!"? Yeah. Probably so.) [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Yeah, I think that might be a problem! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

And I didn't see your post as inappropriate in any way - that is a very real life style change you will be making.

A support group sounds great! Anyone else?

[Suzie]

Yeah, sign me up too. My oldest is 22, he hasn't left home yet but I know it can't be long. The middle son is in his last year of High School and he just got his drivers license so already he has started to drift away.
It makes me sad when I think of how wonderful it was to have them as babies and how much fun they were. And then the years when they loved mommy the "most" much to daddy's chagrin. I am so thrilled to have them growing up as wonderful young men, but oh, I miss my babies.
I don't look foward to being an empty nester at all.
Thank goodness I still have a 10 year old at home, with any luck, the others will have given me grandchildren by the time he plans to move out!
Suzie [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Grumpygal]

I can't say that I know how you feel but I can offer a sort of humorous view.

You could be like my parents - they haven't had a chance to feel the empty nest syndrome yet. I'm 32 today and still living at home. I would imagine that sometimes they wish I could leave. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[mrsmaup]

I have a 12 year old and an almost 9 year old.

A while back A group of friends and I were talking about how grown up our children were getting, how independent they had become and how we couldnt wait for them to be self sufficient when they were 3 and snapping our eyelids open at 5am because they were hungry, but now we kinda missed that time; the time when they needed us for EVERYTHING and we were their entire world.

Anyway, a good friend of mine in this group turned to me and said "do you realize that BOTH of your children will be adults and probably gone to college in 10 years?" UH, WHAT???? NO WAY, THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. IM IN THE THICK OF ACTUALLY ENJOYING MY CHIDLREN ALL THE TIME!!! THEY CANT ACTUALLY LEAVE CAN THEY????????

To make it worse she then reminded me that I had gotten married 2 weeks after my 18th birthday(and still married 15 years later, guess we showed them all eh?!LOL!!) and that if my daughter followed my path, she could be married in 6 years!!!!!!!!!!AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!LOL!! LOL!!

So, while I cant say I know how you are feeling yet, I do definately have empathy for you all and will be there with you way too soon!!

prayers for all of you!!!

Kristie in ND

[DisneyMomma]

More prayers and hugs from me to all of you current and soon-to-be empty nesters. My DS just turned 5 so I can only imagine what you must be feeling. I was just telling DH this morning that, while I was eager for our next WDW trip, that would mean that DS would be 9 and I don't want the time between now and then to rush by - although I know it will. DS starts kindergarten on the 25th. Somehow that seems like the beginning of the end. I know, no matter how much we treasure each moment, his school years will fly by. [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img]

[Mickey's old friend]

I sent my daughter away to college 6 yrs ago. I know how you feel. I read a book that did help me with the mixed emotions I had. "Letting Go" by Karen Levin Coburn & Madge Lawrence Treeger. My daughter is my baby and it really tore me apart. We were best friends and spent lots of time together. She was in sports, so my life revolved around her meets and practices. She rec'd a scholarship and it took her out of state. I got through it because in 4-5 years she would be home. To make a long story short... she moved alittle farther away in pursuit of her career. I am very proud of her and that helps. We go to WDW/DL together to have special, magical time together. Hopefully someday she will move back to live near us....if not there will always be our special trips. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Dumbo]

When Scott left home it wasn't to bad. College was 1/2hr away. Very close for all of us.

He did an intership at Cedar Point very far away. Took about 7 hrs to get there. He really grew from the experience.

He moved into his own apartment about 40 min from home this past Feb. Hard to believe that he's grown and won't be living with us. He's 26 and time for him to spread his wings.

Keith was a totaly different matter. He was in sports so we did a lot of time together in the car. He decided to attend college 31/2 hrs from home. I started getting upset Aug 1. I was not ready for him to go off by himself. I was really upsit after we said goodbye. He spent the last 2 years of college where his brother attended.

Keith is now gone. We aren't sure if the job will last past summer. He's working for a co based in Columbus Oh. He's gained a lot of experience. If he comes home soon ok if not we'll have to deal with the fact that he to will be gone.

Doesn't mean I won't cry because I will. It's a mom thing.

It's great to come here and talk. I wish I would have had you guys 5 years ago when Keith went off to college.

The best part about having no one at home. DH and I can decide on dinner and there's no one saying I don't want that. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[joyjoy]

Linda,
Your post made me feel better. &lt;sniff&gt; I'll get that book. Maybe I could buy it, read it, and send it to the next person. I'm a fast reader. I was crying about all this to my boyfriend last night (his daughter is just 13, so at least I still kinda have her) and he wondered how much of the empty nest syndrome is the part about missing your kid, how much is about feeling like you've lost your "job" and how much is about actually feeling the stabs of getting older ourselves. Interesting. I honestly do not want a baby or even a 5 year old again, although I loved every minute of that time with Jordie. So it's not that I want to start over, I just don't want this one to end. Every year that has passed we've grown closer and closer. Her teenage years have been amazing - it's like I met a best friend. I really like her as a person, along with loving her as a child.

Okay. [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img]

[Suzie]

Since I've always had to work full time, the kids are the fun part, the job is just a job. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]
As they grow, what I miss is cold feet in our bed when a sudden storm drives a little one into our room, lumpy little clay creations, dandelion bouquets, pizza dinners on Fridays, Halloween costumes in the fall, making gingerbread houses at Christmas, balloon battles and little plastic men underfoot everywhere. [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img]
I know I am going to be just like my parents and have the grandkids at my house every available moment. [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img] But, they better get busy, I'm already old for a parent.