Light hearted antidote to the empty nest thread?

[Theas18]

All my threads sink without trace but I wondered what the upside for you or the kids pushing off back to uni?

For me, right now ,it's the satisfaction of knowing the bathroom is properly clean, the bath is sparkling and scum free, an I shall be the first to use it tomorrow - simple pleasures :)

( dd1 has been cleaning it, not very well but willingly , and using the bath and my bath stuff!)

[ANomNomNom]

I still have two kids left at home so I can't say I am too sad about DS2's imminent departure. I know I am not meant to say that out loud but he is so excited and ready to go I am mostly just really happy for him.

Less cooking and less laundry is a very nice side benefit. I will also now have a term time laundry room

I love it when DS1 comes home for the holidays. It's lovely to see them grow, mature and have their 'own' lives. He is always happy to be home and appreciates a bit of mothering

[larry5]

Dd finished her degree this year and has moved back home to do a PGCE.

The time she was away went very quickly so your 18 year olds off to uni will soon be back so make the most of the space in the fridge and being able to get into the bathroom when you want to.

[madeofkent]

Mine hasn't left yet, he goes on Saturday, and I admit to having racked my brains for things to make me feel better about it. Not putting out his washing on a daily basis, so that it all comes as a huge pile all at once, leaving a revolting hairy scum in the bath, (how??? It doesn't happen when I have a bath!) opening new milk before the old, emptying the fridge, leaving empty packaging in the larder so I never know that we have run out of things, not cleaning out his rabbit often enough (and going away leaving me to deal with said rabbit) BUT

he is wonderful company. I shall miss him dreadfully and hiding it is hard. He's that rare thing, a helpful teenager who can talk to anyone of any age.

However, I have taken a photo of him raiding the fridge, when he wasn't looking. I shall stick it up on the door when he has gone to remind me.

[alreadytaken]

being able to holiday outside of school holidays, not being woken at strange hours, not having to fish small coins left in trouser pockets from the washing machine filter, regaining control of what is watched on TV, less ironing (although they do their own most of the time I will do some when they are working), less clutter, not having the house taken over by their teenage friends.

[MABS]

my Mac make up staying where I put it and not disappearing, the fridge staying fairly full!

[Lilymaid]

As a mother of boys the reduction in in-house farting is appreciated (also look forward to reclaiming the comfy sofa and not having the TV permanently on Dave or other channels I don't watch!

[TheWoollybacksWife]

Having orange juice in the fridge for more than a nano second. DD1 mainlines Tropicana

[JellicleCat]

Getting to drive my own car!

[BlackMogul]

Not worrying about them driving. No cars at university. Looking forward to not being wrong quite so often!

[Shootingatpigeons]

Not having to lie awake worrying until she gets home at 5am, possibly with friends and very smelly kebabs. Obviously this happens (and worse) at uni but ignorance (and lack of food smells) is bliss. I miss her so much when she is away and we have such a great time when she is back but then the nights start to take their toll....

[MABS]

dd is same with Tropicana!!

[mrsrhodgilbert]

Yes to the tropicana too. Also the girls bathroom has been much better this week. I have always blamed dd2 for the state of it, I think I may have to revise my opinion.

I have noticed the pod shopping being cheaper.

[mrsrhodgilbert]

Pod shopping??

[fussychica]

YY to Tropicana. Y to coins in jeans pockets. Most of all no shouting at Fifa on Xbox. Not being told "it'll be fine" if I remind him about something important he needs to do in the very short time he has before he's off again.
However, I will worry about him being so far away until I know he settled in in a new country (again).

[MABS]

and make up in pockets in washing machine!

[mumeeee]

Tissues and cereal bar wrappers in pockets. No dirty dishes left on the work top. I can now know where all the mugs are.

[madeofkent]

Oh yes, the mugs and glasses - DS was dropped off today and I have collected half a dozen dirty mugs and glasses from his room and his den. Looking forward to not having quite as much sports clothing to wash and dry. Not having laptop, sports bag, rucksack and musical instruments just dumped in the hall. Because he always intends to come back and move them...

[MissMarplesBloomers]

Discarded bits of clothing down the back of the sofa.

Forgotten pots growing penicillin in nooks & crannies.

Not getting caught out in the loo by lack of loo roll!!

[madeofkent]

Oh yes, the loo roll! - in fact had a small chortle as I used his loo - neatly stacked with loads of loorolls by moi - and wondered what he was going to do when the inevitable happens and he is sitting there in dismay...

[MABS]

my white towels are still white! no make up smears.

[fussychica]

Reading this made me realise they all seem to share the same slovenly habits
I don't remember being like this, perhaps I'm just showing my age!

[Doilooklikeatourist]

The tropicana carton is still reasonably full . ??
DHs car is where he left it ( with petrol in the tank )
The fridge is full of bits of leftover food , which DS would Hoover up.
Leftover mash ? Fry it up with some cheese on top for a nice breakfast .
Cold sausages ? Eat while standing in front of the fridge with door open looking for something to eat .
I am massively over catering , didn't realise quite how much DS eats .
DD has no one to bicker with so the house is nice and calm ...

[Lilymaid]

DS2 will be going back for his final year on Saturday and despite the flatulence I shall miss him. Sad to see all those unhappy tales over on the other Empty Next thread. In our household, going off to university was the first day of the rest of our lives for both us parents and DCs and so I had scarcely thought about the possibilities of homesickness and that other new students would be unfriendly.
I am still looking forward to unfettered access to the TV remote, for the living room to be less like a dumping ground and for my sofa to be available to me at all times!

[mumblechum1]

yy to all the above re. cleanliness, smaller food bills etc.

Also going to the cupboard to get a glass and it's full; I don't have to shlep upstairs to retrieve 15 glasses from his room :-)

I can honestly say I'm not really missing DS as he was extremely independent and forever disappearing on his travels for weeks at a time.

I'm probably speaking to him more now than when he lived here.

It's also so lovely to hear the happiness in his voice, he LOVES Uni

[Theas18]

mumbles that is absolutely fab! A great reminder of why we have to let them go. DD1 is the same. Loving the whole package- yes the social life and getting away from home but also looking forward to lectures starting next week.