<p>I don't know about the rest of y'all but I'm getting really excited about our upcoming visit to the AFA for orientation this next Monday and Tuesday. I know my D is excited but she is so much like her father and doesn't show her emotions as openly as her twin sister and me. I will be a total wimp when she and her twin sister are gone at the beginning of this summer but I am also very excited for them at the same time. I don't think I have this many emotions at once since the Dr. said, "There appear to be 2 babies!" Life hasn't changed this much for my DH and me since the twins were born either.</p>
<p>Let's hear from all the rest of you "uncool" parents that are excited about upcoming changes in your children's lives.</p>
<p>Both of my girls left 3 years ago. I still catch myself moping around and just hanging out in their rooms for a while. R-Day and Beast were miserable. A-Day came just in time for her twin sister to be taken to college. Just like lemon juice on a paper cut. When my son leaves in a few months, it will be very eerie for us.</p>
<p>We will be down to only one child at home this summer - our only D~!!! We've never had a house with female domination but with two female dogs, we're going to be painting the living room pink!</p>
<p>I hate having my twins leave home. We've had so much fun. Glad for them - but oh, moms, it's bittersweet for us, no?</p>
<p>I just realized we're all moms of twins. How cool!</p>
<p>Well, I don't have twins, so I hope I can interject. </p>
<p>It hit me this morning that this may just be the very last summer I have with my baby (bro. is at USNA). The anticipatory emptiness I feel makes me nauseated. I have been a parent for so much of my married life (what was it like before children? Did we actually date?), I don't know where to begin. I guess we have to start dating, again (the hub and myself). Who am I going to tell to pick up his room? </p>
<p>My DH and I had to leave town for a business trip that came up suddenly. It was actually very nice not to have to worry about who would take care of my girls while we were gone. They can take care of themselves!
I try not to think too much about what our house will be like this summer. Twin A will be leaving for AFA and twin B will be leaving for Slovenia for 5 weeks. We will go back to being a family of 2 (most of the time) just as quickly as we became a family of 4.</p>
<p>When our youngest left for USNA (Class of '11), we became empty nesters. I was grateful for the advice of an acquaintance -- coincidentally, the mother of twins, her youngest two of five. She told me, "For a year, I've been building a file: romantic getaways, classes, spas, remote shopping destinations, etc. Outings I just wouldn't do -- or wouldn't have time to do -- w/ kids @ home." </p>
<p>I haven't done most of the stuff in my own file, but it was fun to build and kept me distracted when I was mooning over The Baby's imminent departure. I did take up golf, which I actively pursue in order to keep some other poor soul from being the Worst Golfer in North America. I also spent time on travel blog sites, learning interesting things to do in/near Annapolis, which have come in handy. </p>
<p>Try making a file. Takes the pressure off the kid, too.</p>
<p>LOL.... have one answer for all the "empty nesters" out there.... "grandpups"!</p>
<p>Our dd brought home her first puppy after finishing college.... the most adorable little maltese..... 4 little fluffy pounds of goodness!!! About a year ago she added a little yorkie.... another 4 pounds of pure mischief! So hubby and I get to babysit regularly and I love it.... they are too funny to watch, and having such cute little "babies" around to cuddle and pamper seems to fill a bit of the void of those empty beds upstairs! </p>
<p>Congrats- your kids are off to great adventures, and how lucky are we that we get to watch!!! Enjoy every minute of your A-day, I-Day, and whatever other day you get to spend with them!!!</p>
<p>Our dd will be going to AFA in June and we too will be empty nesters. S in 10 yrs olders so we have been parenting for almost 29 yrs. S lives 2 blocks away so we see him regularly. I can feel that hole in my heart and lump in my throat already thinking about when she leaves...
I like the idea of a a to-do file to re focus on something other than June 25th.
dd bought us a beta fish so that we won't be missing her so much. It resides in our kitchen so we don't "forget to feed it" Where she got the idea that I liked fish or needed something else to "feed" is beyond me but we accepted graciously!!!</p>
<p>That is so cute that your D thought you needed a fish! My D has a beta fish too and I have encouraged her to give it to some needy, fish-loving person before she leaves (NOT me!) :) </p>
<p>I have been feeling too sad to even post on the "totally uncool" parent thread. I know I need to get over this feeling sorry for myself but I'm actually feeling the pain for everyone. D is our first to leave and she adds so much personality to our family that I cannot imagine the family dynamics when she's gone. I need to snap outta this but I can feel the new "funk" already and I'm NOT liking it ONE bit! I think I will need chemical assistance starting June 25...</p>
<p>If you all start seeing posts from "margaritamom"...you'll know who it is! :) Maybe we could all have a cyber drink together some evening in June. Imagine how funny that thread would be!</p>
<p>Ah.... Cameraderie! My daughter is the first to leave our home (we have 3 children) and I can't imagine what life will be like without her here everyday. She and I are literally the best of friends and she is SO much fun to hang out with. I get some "helpful" hints from other parents who like to equate their child's leaving for civilian college to mine- but hey - we all know there is little comparison. They can show up at their child's dormitory ANY time they would like and call their child at any and all hours. I am pretty sure that USNA doesn't look too favorably upon a midshipman's Mommy bringing some chocolate chip cookies to Calc class!! :) July 2nd will be without a doubt one of the proudest moments of my life so far and....the saddest.</p>
<p>In 2006 my oldest left for a year abroad...that was heartwrenching. But he came back and goes to college less than an hour away. Middle kiddo is going to USMA...850 miles from home. The thought of him leaving is so very hard...much harder than the other one, as we basically had unlimited access to him (phone and AIM). It will be such a sudden and drastic change...a huge adjustment for all. While I am extremely proud, I am so sad to see the family dynamics change so much.</p>
<p>I am up for a cyber drink in June with any other Mom's having a moment!! OHmom, I hear your about the hints about civilian college. My daughter is going the farthest away from any other students in her class. No comparasion at all!!
My daughter just compiled a "list" of restuarants she wants to visit before June 25. We decided to start now so as not to squeeze everything in the first 2 weeks of June. So, today we start!!</p>
<p>Sounds like "Cyber-ritas" for all! My best friend's daughter has yet to leave home, she is 20 y.o., so all her advice is pretty useless. No one else even tries to understand that BOTH of my children are leaving and not at the end of the summer but at the beginning before their 18th b'day. I sure am glad that y'all understand what it is like.
Don't get me wrong, I am excited for both of them. They are two of the strongest and bravest people I know and they are headed for a great adventure. I just wish it didn't hurt me so bad to see them go...
Ah, parenting, ain't it grand...</p>
<p>Maybe we should set a cyber date/roll call for early July - just to make sure we are all okay and haven't locked ourselves away in our rooms somewhere. It will be nice to have each other to talk to as we know exactly how we all are feeling! Who knew you could be filled with such an equal part of pride AND sadness. It is a balancing act each day as to which part is greater. Most days I am just SO proud and excited and so very grateful for my daughter to have such a unique and incredible education. I can't wait for her to experience all that USNA has to offer. I know that USNA is an absolute perfect fit for who she is and who she will become. Other days I feel like spending each and every second of my day with her - feeling sad that this will be the last time we "____" (fill in the blank) before she leaves. As txtwinmom said... "ah, parenting, ain't it grand..."</p>
<p>Substitute USAFA for USNA, and I could have written your post!! You nailed my feelings perfectly. Some days I'm overjoyed, some days I feel physically sick....some days both! </p>
<p>Liz'smom, my daughter has a list of things to do too!! Right now Ohio is topping the list. She has been dying to go back to Cedar Point. We used to live in Ohio and she grew up on those coasters!--possibly the reason she's an adrenaline junkie! So somehow we'll get up there. We had tickets on Skybus but now it looks like we'll have to make the 13 hr. drive...</p>
<p>Speaking of roller coasters...it's so nice to know I'm not going thorough these emotions alone... :(...</p>
<p>Ya'll take care. I'll be on the lookout for the cyber-drink thread this summer!</p>
<p>Good luck to all you moms whether you're sending off your first, second, third or even fourth.</p>
<p>Ditto all the posts above. I'm up for @ cyberdrink in early July. Oldest leaving home, and Dad (Retired Chief CGA also a USN vet) died recently. Rday will be harder without him. D will also turn 18 2 days after R Day at CGA - 7/2. </p>
<p>flymom- we're also in NC and were 'SkyBusted' a few weeks ago when our D was in New England for a CGA visit. We had to bring her home via Southwest instead from raleigh. fortunately she made it home the day BEFORE American's flight fiasco with >1000 flights cancelled.</p>
<p>My younger 2 D's THINK they won't miss their older sister -- middle D is already scoping out oldest D's bedroom -- but time will tell.</p>