Empty nest- feeling a bit melancholy

[NapoleonsNose]

DD is already at uni and about to start her final year. We are taking DS to his uni on Friday then we will be empty-nesters. I've suddenly become a bit sad about this and feeling like a chapter is closing. No longer will I be 'mum' who looks after everyone, feeds them, is actually there when I'm needed, and I'm feeling a bit sad. I know I'll still be 'mum', but I guess I'm going to miss the busyness of the house as it'll just be me and DH. Anyone else got a touch of the sads now the DC have flown the nest?

Hello have some from a fellow empty nester.

My youngest is at Uni but I 've had his older sister at home until last Christmas when they both moved out to a rented house together so I lost them both at the same time. I wasn't upset at first as they had both moved in or out at various times, but suddenly that was it BOTH gone.

I thought I'd be Ok but I have had wobbly days ever since just now & then, awful feeling of being teary missing them dreadfully, & getting cross with myself for being daft!

They will come back though & you develop a more adult relationship with them & it's enjoyable in a different way.

Can you get away with DH for a break soon doing something you wouldn't have done with the kids?

Embrace it - ds had been away during term time since the start of sixth form, and I get used to the contrast between him being here, and it just being myself and dh.

Ds has just finished his MA, and has come home whilst waiting to hear on the jobs front. It'll take some getting used to it being the three of us again, and whilst I enjoy having him home, it can be irritating at times (especially when he finished the bread and milk and doesn't tell me!).

Yes, we are going away on holiday, once we've dropped DD back in a couple of weeks. We've never been abroad on our own before without DC so it is something to look forward to. I'm just dreading the dark autumn days when it's just me and DH in the house in a few weeks. I'm sure I'll get used to it, but it seems now, like the last 21 years have gone by in a flash.

Just think of all of the positives!

Have you had sex in every room in your house? At midday?

My DD is about to start her final year and DS is about to go too so we're in the same boat OP

I'm actually delighted. We can go away woo-hoo in term-time. We can do all the things that we did when we had no DC. It's going to be fun, you mark my words.

Look on the bright side. You have brought your children up to independent. Isn’t that the whole point?
I have friends with 30 year old ‘children’ at home who never left