<p>Woke up early to get ready for sunrise service and my wife was sitting up in bed with a tear in her eye. I asked what was up and she asked me if I realized that the boys may never live with us again after this summer. </p>
<p>Good and bad about twins I guess.</p>
<p>I share your wife's feelings. I woke up hoping that I 'll be able to have Easter Baskets delivered to their dorms next year! </p>
<p>Are they going together?</p>
<p>Maybe I'm the exception. I DO miss my kids. This is the first year neither one will be here today. BUT I LOVE my empty nest. The house is clean, the bathrooms are clean, there is less laundry, the cars aren't always on empty, the food I buy for dinner is in the fridge when I go to cook it, the lights aren't on 24/7, and it's quiet. I love having my kids here when they are here...but it's nice being able to watch what I want to watch on TV...and to have a car available to ME when I need it. Yes...you will miss your kids, but there are a LOT of pluses.</p>
<p>No proudinnj they are very different and chose very different schools. One to USC and on to Washington State or Oregon State. Both are studying engineering though. Actually they are mirror twins one is left handed and the other right handed, one likes rural while the other likes the city, one dates a blonde while the other likes brunettes. Even the hair on their heads swirls in the opposite directions.</p>
<p>I tend to think it is time and I know they are ready to go. I am ready for the change but my wife is going to have a tough time.</p>
<p>Thera are a lot of pluses, but aside from that...
what I didn't realize, when I was where you are, drizzit, is that they come back. Every holiday, every summer - not for the whole time, probably, but a lot. It seems like we're always buying airline tickets for Ds trip home.
Just bought tickets for graduation. Wow. Time goes really fast.
For a few more years yet, they will still think of your house as their home.
I don't think of myself as a true empty nester yet. When they are both out of college, with places of their own, then I'll feel it.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Maybe I'm the exception. I DO miss my kids. This is the first year neither one will be here today. BUT I LOVE my empty nest. The house is clean, the bathrooms are clean, there is less laundry, the cars aren't always on empty, the food I buy for dinner is in the fridge when I go to cook it, the lights aren't on 24/7, and it's quiet. I love having my kids here when they are here...but it's nice being able to watch what I want to watch on TV...and to have a car available to ME when I need it. Yes...you will miss your kids, but there are a LOT of pluses.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>...in total and complete agreement.</p>
<p>"Just bought tickets for graduation. Wow. Time goes really fast."</p>
<p>I hear you. Three months ago DW and I were arguing with D about finalizing a major, and yesterday the order slip for her class ring arrived.</p>
<p>Enjoy these poignant, misty eyed, sweet nostalgic moments now, and try to remember them when your kids move back in with you in a couple years.</p>
<p>NJres ^^^^ that was funny :)</p>
<p>Drizzit: When your twins are your first, second and last all at one time, it's hard when they leave. However, if they're at different schools, they'll likely have some different vacation times. It's kind of fun when just one is home and you get to have a "singleton" and give one all of the attention! (They love it too.)</p>
<p>NJers: Very amusing. LOL</p>
<p>Hi drizzit - it's similar for us. We have 16, 17, and 18 yos. One is already in college, one is deciding amongst her acceptances. One more to go. It's a weird feeling. I have so much time now it's nearly overwhelming.</p>
<p>Ahh- dreams of empty nest..
Laugh if you want JJres is right. Oldest (26) finally has left after 2 other tries that did not work out. 23 year old came back once and is now at his girl friends parents house instead. 21 year old is on his first time back. Our hope is that the youngest one that is going away to college this time will stay put :) but since she is in vocal performance we figure she will be around again at least in and out while she travels for performances! The only defense seems to be a Winnebago.</p>
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The only defense seems to be a Winnebago.
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</p>
<p>So THAT's what the appeal of a motorhome is all about! :D</p>
<p>Yep. I'll wait until they're truly on their own before I start to get to comfy in my empty nest.</p>
<p>NJres, You hit our nail on the head.
As we prepare to have our baby graduate HS and leave the nest this spring --- big sis finished up college in December, took a consulting job and lives here part of each week; big bro graduates college in May and is job hunting locally. </p>
<p>So we move one step closer toward empty nest-then take two back!</p>
<p>We visited our eldest S in Washington DC this past week. He is 2 years out of college, employed, happy as a lark, and seems very content in DC. I told my H our visit made me sad .... I don't think I'll ever talk him into moving home again.</p>
<p>I was joking ... but not completely.</p>
<p>I love Empty--Next! But I am a bit thrown by the long visits home. Those visits disrupt the Empty--Next! groove. I don't know how my parents have done it for the past twenty eyars--kids and grandkids coming and going through the year.</p>
<p>Thinking about thier lives between the gates of 50 and 70 has set me thinking. I'm not sure what I want for those last mobile decades. I'm not sure I want to be Entertainment Central.</p>
<p>Hopefully, our situtation won't be as bad. We use to send him to grandparents in Florida for 2weeks. Then music camp for 3 weeks. Last year was Cornell summer program for 2 months. This fall, off to Harvey Mudd..only 1 hour away. Could of been Cornell, MIT, or Notre Dame...he was accepted there..but he selected the little college atmosphere. My wife and I are looking forward to some privacy...yet I know some tears will flow when September comes around.
Thats life....I guess its time to get a small dog.</p>
<p>Agree, thumper1. Just took son back to school after spring break. I had to empty the dryer a few days after he used it so I could use it last week (he folded laundry just before we left...had to wait for him to do it, I had wondered this afternoon if it would go back without folding). Won't have to go on a house hunt the night before trash day or before running the dishwasher... Will clean bedding and a bathroom, then ignore them until summer vacation... hints of staying on campus this summer sound too good to be true, I love my son, but... Vacations are his time to get some R&R, but they're not a vacation for mothers.</p>
<p>The most amazing thing about this thread is finding out that Wis75's son folded his laundry. My Son the Engineer points out that he will have to unfold it to wear it anyway, so why waste the time?</p>
<p>We just bought a 2-seat sports car, so I guess we are in training for Son 2 to leave for college in 2010...</p>