<p>I guess I'm in the minority here, but I'm loving the empty nest! The whole family flew to drop our freshman D at her college 1100 miles from home. After flying back home we left the next morning to drive our sophomore S to his school--6 1/2 hours away.</p>
<p>Our S was glad to say goodbye, and we didn't have the tearfest I was expecting with our D. So far she is getting along well with her roommate and suitemate, likes her classes, and seems happy. I'm sure that has everything to do with my relaxed state of mind.</p>
<p>Now my husband and I eat all of the great foods our kids wouldn't touch, we eat when we want to eat not when the kids are complaining of hunger, and basically it's easier to please 2 people than 4 people. We're also planning a vacation without the kids, who aren't coming back for Thanksgiving. And, best of all, the dog doesn't wake us up by barking when the kids come home after we've gone to bed!</p>
<p>I think the adjustment will be when they come home for winter break!</p>
<p>Hang in there, Empty Nester! You know you're doing the right thing & that your S will be stronger by being forced to look around & see what's happening on his campus. When our kids are 3000 miles (a 5+ hour flight), coming home isn't an option, though we do allow them to come homw for Christmas and summer breaks. When I went away to college in the stone ages, I only went home because my parents FORCED me to every summer (they didn't want me to get too attached & were right that I nearly ended up staying on the West Coast). We weren't given airfare to come home for any other time & I had some amazing visits to Chicago, Michigan, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Portland, Seattle, LA, and other places because going home wasn't an option. The same holds for our kids--we allow them to get a plane ticket to visit friends on the continental US but discourage a trip back to HI except for Christmas & summer.</p>
<p>How long does it take to adjust? That is indeed a relative question. In our case, perhaps it is a matter of coping. Our only child is 11 hours away, but started branching out at a much younger age-having attended camps and later, university sponsored programs for weeks at a time. I don't think you ever "really" adjust to their being gone. In our case, we live in small chunks of time: we have just dropped him off to begin his Jr year, he will not be home again until fall break (mid-Oct). I tend to only think that far ahead right now. I also think that the adjustment is thinking in that light-when will they be returning home for a visit? Try not to think to far ahead and focus on when they will be returning. In the meantime, stay busy with all of those house chores that you have put off for the last few years: cleaning the closets, organizing the closets, small repairs. And, if that isn't enough, think about all of those ECs that you wanted to do but couldn't: learning to play the piano, volunteering, an exercise class, reconnecting with old friends. The time does move quickly and they will return before you know it!</p>