Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what you will do when your kids leave home?

92 replies

Mangetoutrodney · 20/03/2019 17:29

I love being a mum & will do anything for my kids. I do find it tiring though esp working full time & the weight of responsibility of raising 2 small people (they are 7 & 11). I try to cherish every moment though.

When I have an empty nest, i’d love to take another gap year. I have been lucky to have had 2 in my life before to travel extensively and I miss it. I think I am a wanderer at heart & am not bothered by material stuff. So that’s what I hope to do (health etc permitting) - to wander again for a year.

Aibu to ask what you would like to do?

(I’m not wishing my life away- just dreaming a bit when the routine gets to me a bit!!)

OP posts:
stopfuckingshoutingatme · 20/03/2019 17:30

Rest when I get home
Gym
Miss them
Have a
Clean hour
I’ll be 55 minimum !!!! I

Gazelda · 20/03/2019 17:31

I just know that I'll sink into a very low mood, for a very long time. So I'll plan lots of nice things for the short term to see me through

After that, I'd absolutely love to be a parish councillor.

megletthesecond · 20/03/2019 17:31

Sleep.
Go to the gym every day again.
Read books.
Catch up on paperwork.

8 years until both at Uni and I'm counting the days Blush.

tillytrotter1 · 20/03/2019 17:31

Don't fret, you're never really rid of them!

Original poster
Mangetoutrodney · 20/03/2019 17:32

@stopfuckingshouting i’ll be 55 too 😬

OP posts:
Original poster
Mangetoutrodney · 20/03/2019 17:32

That ‘race around the world’ has inspired me though- some retirees on there backpacking!!!

OP posts:
Fatasfook · 20/03/2019 17:33

My child won’t ever be able to leave home

Lungelady · 20/03/2019 17:33

I am living the dream.
Retired early...I travel a lot and love seeing them sporadically Grin

ZippyBungleandGeorge · 20/03/2019 17:33

I'll be mid fifties if not a little older, I'd like to travel again and I'd really like to be a magistrate

HarrySnotter · 20/03/2019 17:35

@megletthesecond, what if they don't go to Uni? They might be around even longer! Grin

Bibijayne · 20/03/2019 17:35

Travel! I'll be 52 when my DS is 18.. but I'm a FTM so hoping for more small people.

My DH and I love traveling. Hoping to still do a bit whilst our DC is still little.

Mydressinggownismybestfriend · 20/03/2019 17:35

I’m hoping mine stay here till mid 20s until they can buy a house (depending on their circumstances of course!)

Even if they do I’ll still only be mid 40s. Maybe I’ll start all over again with another couple Grin

Jokes ... I’ll read a LOT of books!

Ithinkmycatisevil · 20/03/2019 17:36

I'll be just turned 41 when my youngest goes to uni. I'd like to travel and become properly qualified in the area I work in

I'll also miss them like crazy, they're my favourite people.

megletthesecond · 20/03/2019 17:37

harry then I'll go back as a mature student and they can look after the house Grin.

NameChangeNugget · 20/03/2019 17:37

Love mine to bits but, we treated ourselves to 6 weeks in Australia & New Zealand. Was fantastic and a real line in the sand moment

juneau · 20/03/2019 17:38

Mine are the same age as yours and right now I'm looking forward to a) having a tidy home that stays tidy and b) not having to cook, wash, clean and tidy after anyone else (apart from DH, that is, but he's not too bad). I just find the drudgery of parenting grim. So many tedious tasks that have to be done again and again. Muddy games kit 5x a week, meals, shopping - agh! I need staff dammit! Grin

Original poster
Mangetoutrodney · 20/03/2019 17:39

@ithinkmycat my kids are my fav people too. I’d love to travel with them- we have done a bit but not long haul with them- would love to backpack with them for s few months!

OP posts:
PotteringAlong · 20/03/2019 17:39

I’m going to be at a sandels adult only resort in the Caribbean faster than you can say freshers week...

FairyBunnyAgain · 20/03/2019 17:41

This is where I should have been last October but DC1 dropped out of uni as DC2 started so is back home re evaluating their life. They are working and help around the house so it’s not all bad but I long to be able to go out to work in the morning leaving a tidying house and return to the same in the evening.

As they are adult I can still go to the gym etc when I want so that is great and We only eat together when it works for us (see above regarding messy house)

I have no plans for a gap year at present as I had a 6 month career break 5 years ago, but DH and I do try to travel at least 3 times a year, leaving DC at home to look after the pets. And we are planning to retire early

juneau · 20/03/2019 17:42

Oh and when they leave home I'll spend a couple of months every winter somewhere where the sun shines.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 20/03/2019 17:46

My child won’t ever be able to leave home
Flowers

That’s hard . Will they gain more independence Or will you be completely hands on ?

Alienspaceship · 20/03/2019 17:47

There’s nothing really I’m desperate to do. I decided to get it a out of my system, travel etc before kids as I couldn’t imagine anything worse than being constrained by kids and thinking ‘I can’t wait to... ‘.

KOKOtiltomorrow · 20/03/2019 17:47

@Potteringalong.....you've just given me a great idea for next year's holiday!

When mine go, I will down size, but a nice ",retirement " flat, free up some cash and do whatever the heck I feel.like!!'

maslinpan · 20/03/2019 17:49

See more films and have more sex. I like to keep my goals realistic!

PlainSpeakingStraightTalking · 20/03/2019 17:49

Leave home ?? hahahaha!!!

The average age now to leave home is thirty-bloody-four !

I'll be dead. And if I'm not, my hips will be buggered and I'll have no chance of trekking the Himalayas