I miss my kids

[ssd]

They are grown /growing up, very late teens very early 20s
They do their own thing a lot of the time and rightly so

I just miss spending the long days with them when I woke them up and put them to bed after storied
It goes sooooo quick

Lungelady you are not the only one. I am keen for my two to bugger off (19 and23). I am told I will be bereft when they finally go but I don't see it.

If you have a spare room look into fostering! It sounds like you have a lot of love to give.

Ssd my eldest leaves for Australia on Tuesday morning and I honestly feel like I'm grieving. The time does indeed fly. Take me back to the days where he's wrestling far too roughly with his younger brother......

Tend to agree with Lunge and AF, my DS is off to university soon and I can’t wait , I feel my life has been ‘on hold’ for the last 18 years and I can finally start doing what I want again.

Recently a very dear friend sat with me sobbing because her children had left home and she felt her life was over as she said ‘all she had ever wanted to do was be mum’, I offered sympathy of course but I just couldn’t relate to what she was saying. Her children have done exceptionally well in life & I would just be so proud to have raised two very successful young people.

DS2 (22) has moved out, got his dream job in the city where he went to university, has a lovely girlfriend (who quite likes spending time with me) and only comes home occasionally. DS1 (24) is in the army so I don't see him for weeks or months at a time.

When they first went I was like a least puppy. My days were long, I worried all the time, especially if they didn't ring or text for a few days. But now me and DH are really enjoying this newfound independence. If we want to go on holiday at the last minute we do, if we want to go away for the night we can, we eat when and exactly what we want. The house is always clean and tidy and the fridge never looks like it's been attacked by a swarm of locusts.

They still need us, when they need emotional support, a bit of reassurance or advice on their cars it's our phones that ring, but we like that.

This thread makes me feel so sad. I only have one son, he's 8, and I adore him to bits but he also drives me nuts, and yet I know in a matter of years he won't need me.

It makes me really respect my parents even more. I was the middle of 3, buggered off really young, couldn't wait to get away and do my own thing and they never once made me feel bad. Always said, I should live my life. Even now, I'm the furthest away and the least attentive and they never reproach me.

Perhaps they enjoy the distance, on second thoughts...I was always the biggest nightmare of their kids!

I hear you, OP.

Both of mine now live less than half an hour away, living happy, fulfilled lives, and I'm insanely proud of them. We still communicate a lot by text and Messenger, and we have a really good, happy, funny relationship.

But - but...

Somehow, despite our smallholding and our pets and my terrific DH and all the lovely holidays we have, I still find time to miss the crowded noisy years of their childhood in the little terraced house we had then. Where did it all go?

I sometimes feel like this already and mine are 2 x early teens, soon to be third teen and I still have a toddler!

Me and OH have promised ourselves lots of travelling together then a rescue dog after they’ve all moved out x

Mine are 7, 4 and 2. I’ll be completely honest, I cannot wait for the moment you describe here op

Mine are 8 and 10. The years are speeding by. I love them so and cannot imagine our home without them. I am dreading the empty nest but understand that my job is to help them grow wings and fly.

Know what you’re saying OP. Our 3 are all at uni, ds2 home for a very swift visit. He was in the bath for 3 hours today - I miss that ☹️. He won’t be back until a fleeting visit in the summer as he’s working two jobs as well as uni. I miss our life 10 years ago.

It's just a stage of our lives we didn't expect isn't it

I hide it well too😔

Mine are 16,14, 12, 10 and eight . I dread them leaving, love them so much and they are such fun .