Anyone else quite enjoy the Empty Nest?

Yes the mix is great. Sometimes quiet and peaceful and other times when they are all around and it’s a bit noisy and expensive. Best of both worlds.

Another thing that I like about grown up (ish) children is the partners. Love the (current) additions to the family.

Deeply jealous of all you empty nesters 😂😂😂
love my dc though I do, we’ve had glimpses of what it could be like one day! One came back from uni last year to live and start her ‘proper job’, one is still at uni so a bit of peace on that front and we also have a teen who may not be going to uni.
i’m 41 and on the odd occasion that all 3 are out at once dh and I are like giddy teenagers!

Hmm.. I’m ok. But I do miss my dd, even if she was in and out like a mirage.. I miss the chaos of her. Luckily I enjoy dh’s company so I’m ok.

@hoardingwealth my son went to uni at 18, graduated last year, got a job in his uni city, and isn’t coming back home. Mixed feelings, as he can be quite difficult. He doesn’t keep in touch much, where we live has much less to offer than Bristol it seems..I feel like if I didn’t text, call, or visit him, I might never see him or hear from him again..

DH and I LOVE it. The kids are doing great so we don't need to worry about them (right now), we are free to do whatever we like whenever we like, the house is so tidy and easy to maintain. But, equally, we love when all the kids come home and embrace the noise and chaos again. I think that's how it's supposed to be!

Mine were ready to fly .
Love them so much but happy they are off doing life
Tidy & easily maintained house .
Time for ourselves again .
We got a kitten - read what you will into that but loving this stage .

It was awful when my youngest went to uni. The house felt dead and I was bereft. It didn’t help that my brother had just died. But soon it was good. We love the peace and lack of demand. Our kids are great but it feels like it’s time for us now. Having said that, the youngest is back now from uni until his final year starts in September. Another one has been back and forth a million times but is hopefully now settled. You can never count on your empty nest!

I’m only half way there, but I’m left with the one who doesn’t require lifts everywhere and socialises elsewhere. All I did was drive and host when eldest was here. I cry when she goes back to uni for about a week, then get back into my routine and love it. She’s in a relationship so won’t be returning, and I can’t turn her room into a library quick enough!!!

It's a good feeling, sort of "my work here is done". And to see them out in the world and thriving, having their own full lives, is all the reward needed for the hard work it took 😊

Same here! 43 with 5yo (my youngest). It’s a loooong road ahead.

We've been empty nesters for the last 8 months and at first it was odd but we rapidly grew to love it. Still bananas, yoghurt, eggs, berries when we go to eat them (both my son's snack on these constantly, my husband had to hide fruit in a cupboard so there was some left for his lunches), no frying of food when I have just cleaned the kitchen, toilets are flushed and lights are turned off.

My boys are not deliberately thoughtless, they help around the house when they are here, they are kind and funny, and very loving. But boys make a mess. And it's 4 adults in a house not 2 which makes a massive difference.

Since we've been alone it's very peaceful, just our rhythm, We've been going out for Sunday lunch together, picking a new pub each time, if we did that with our adult sons every week it would be prohibitively expensive as they eat twice as much as we do

Eldest is back now after a job finishing and he's being very respectful and tidy but it does change the dynamic.

I would HATE it if either of them moved abroad. 😕

Pinkissmart ·
Me. I live on my own.
So many people think I’m a sad creature who needs someone to look after to be fulfilled.

Whereas in fact you are a strong, self sufficient and quietly powerful woman of whom those who critcise are deeply jealous.

We love it. No mess, no drama, no squabbling between them. We thought they’d all finally settled last year then one had a relationship breakdown and moved back home, he’s finally gone again so harmony is restored once more. I love them all dearly but love having the house to ourselves more ha ha ha.

Love it!!

We loved it for the whole year it lasted. They are all home again for various reasons and we suspect at least one is here for a very long time to come. Enjoy it while you can!

I had mine very young, so I'm only mid 40s and have moved house with none of them! I do have one at uni though, it's quite odd when he comes back, so used to the peace and quiet and clean toilet and not having to wait for the bathroom.

He can cook though so that's nice when he's about, plus he's good company 😍
Not sure if he'll come back permanently after uni but there's a bedroom for him if he wants to.
But my god, I LOVE not living with them anymore 😳

I do now but it took a while.
I struggled a bit when the second went to uni. We also had about 9 years when they bounced back for uni holidays, for a few months looking for jobs, covid or between flats .
Both properly in their own houses now and I am used to the peace and tidiness.
It's great when they visit, one comes over for the odd weekend and the lives half an hour away but very full on. We had DC later in life and are busy enjoying retirement now.

@Zov Wow, that’s awful! So that woman’s parents raised their kids and sent them out into the world as independent adults living their lives, and then the daughter is so entitled that she has cut them off for following their own dreams when she’s in her 30s??? Jesus! She seriously needs to have a word with herself!

Love them to bits. Twin DDs both at university, so peace and quiet at home. Less washing, less food, house is tidier (would be even tidier if DP moved out too!) Lovely to see them at Christmas, Easter and the summer.

Here’s the rub though, they’re both threatening to come back home when they graduate to study for a Masters at a London university.

Ah well, it was nice while it lasted.

My son moved out 6 years ago, my daughter just 4 months ago...
Have got used to my son not being here. DD lives 5 minutes away. I miss her......but she has ADHD....so I absolutely don't miss her mess!

We never really had an empty nest! When the oldest DC went to Uni the youngest was still at home. By the time the youngest went, one of the oldest had moved back. Over the following decades we hosted DC and partners at various times, a couple of the DC friends when they were between homes, my DIL’s sister and brother at different times and my niece for a few weeks. We’re in our mid seventies now and have very recently downsized, and while I love the new set up, I miss the hustle and bustle of a busy home.

I was 22/23 when I had Dd. If she’d gone to un8 at 18yo I’d have been an empty nester at 41 I think. I must admit I did like getting my life back in my late 30s as she was more independent.

I did get a puppy when Dd left home so that’s kept me occupied 🤣

Same with me. She doesn’t contact us, barely responds to WhatsApps. Shes fine when we do go and see her. I certainly don’t think she’s gone no contact or even low contact. Went to see her today. First time dh has seen her in over six months. Shes happy enough to get taken out for lunch, etc. I keep telling myself that at her age she’s just busy/wrapped up in her own life. I don’t think I thought about my parents at all at her age, they were just a bit of a non entity.