<p>
[quote]
Pain of preparing for an empty nest
By Daniel Rubin
Inquirer Columnist</p>
<p>One of the boys has assumed his usual position for this time of year, vertical on the couch, watching ESPN's SportsCenter, his long hairy legs draped over the armrest.
I touch his ankle as I walk by.</p>
<p>"What was that for?" he asks.</p>
<p>"Nothing. Just saying hello."</p>
<p>He studies me and nods sagely.</p>
<p>"That's funny. Mom did the same thing to me yesterday."
<p>Fun to read. I still have a 15 and 9 YO at home and sometimes feel that I'll never get to the empty nest point. 9 more years of 24/7 adolescence.</p>
<p>atom: Do you have a hiatus from adolescence in between or do you have 16 more continuous years of adolescence ahead? I'm not implying that one is preferable to the other - just curious.</p>
<p>I did not see that last line coming! Very cute! D is starting to feel the emotional awareness of the last 10 days of school. So many emotions swirling in her head/heart. I feel fortunate that she shares them with me. I guess that is what Mom's are for-the knowing-ness/support.</p>
<p>pre: besides the 2yo, our other kids are 5, 8, 11, 13, 16, & almost 19. So no hiatus on the teenagers. (Not a blended family--everyone asks me. Though I don't mind being mistaken for H's trophy wife ;) I'm just as often mistaken for my younger kids grandma :(
Looking forward to the end of diaper-changing--after 19 years.</p>
<p>while I was in the waiting room as my son was getting 2 wisdom teeth pulled this morning, The thought crossed my mind that by this time next year, he'll be home from his first year of college. Talk about wishing the time away....!</p>
<p>sueinphilly,
There is a wisdom tooth thread in the Parents' Cafe! It seems that a lot of posters' kids are getting wisdom teeth pulled right now (including my daughter)!</p>
<p>i used to laugh at people who said they feared the empty nest. i used to think it would be a breeze to shift gears and relax a little. i was so very wrong. everyone is different, but this past year has been really tough for me. in two weeks, though, my baby will be home. temper that joy with a little sadness because he'll be leaving for school again soon enough!</p>
<p>I've been mistaken for my son's grandma too. I was 37 when I had him. I'm someone who likes to do things once, so just one child. I love him dearly and I'll miss him severely but I won't wish I had more diapers to change.</p>
<p>Empty Nest is really really different. It's the least physical of all the adult stages--that's the biggest difference. Young family life has the highest number of hugs and kisses from the largest number of humans who adore you. Mid-family life--if your teens are sweet natured--has plenty of hugs and kisses from people who love you most of the time. Pre-family life has heaps of sexy squeezes and kisses--and lots of thoughts about sexy squeezes and kisses. Empty nest brings sexy back--just not at the same level of voraciousness. The overall number of hugs and kisses drops too--as the overall number of sweet humans living in the house drops.</p>
<p>The Me Time skyrockets. For someone who has always enjoyed her work--it is a pleasure to be able to drift along in creative daydreams without having to worry about what is happening at 3 pm, 5 pm, 7 pm, 9 pm etc etc.</p>
<p>We're off to explore a new city for the weekend--and then down to the coast for a few days a few meetings. It's the fourth weekend trip in four months--two of the trips combined business and holiday. We give the boy across the road a key and some dog food for Scruffy--and we're off. It couldn't be easier. Yipppppeeeee.</p>