To ask you how you felt about your child's coming of age? (Light hearted-ish)

[SparklesAllOver]

DS turned 18 on Friday, felt on a high, we had the best gathering we could for him during partial lockdown, his family and friends came at various time-allotted slots and it was great. But now I feel a bit sad and empty. I am thrilled for him that he has a direction in life, etc, but worry how life will be when he leaves home in September. He is only child and we generally have a great relationship, lots of fun and laughter. How do I cope when I am left with grumpy DH?!

Just read that back, didn't mean to sound so selfish.

We're still 10 years away from it, but it goes through my mind all the time. It hardly seems any time since he was a baby, then a toddler, then starting school.... and I'm guessing that the next decade will probably seem to pass just as quickly.

It's kind of a very long exam, isn't it?! You spend 18 years doing all the learning and revision and then, at the date that was set from the start, you have to 'hand them in' (to themselves, weirdly enough!) and then that's it. And just as the exam itself was extremely long, you only find out your results bit by bit over many years.

From the moment your child is born, it's your express job to make them independent of you and to leave you. I don't think that makes it any easier to come to terms with, though.

BTW, your OP didn't sound in the least selfish to me

Yes, can’t quite take it in. We have just booked a little holiday in the place we were in when I found out I was pregnant. It really does seem like yesterday. I would give anything to replay those years again.

You don't sound selfish at all OP, you just sound like a loving mum.

And actually, the longest years âtre the early ones. Once they get to secondary it goes into fast forward.

My boy has just turned 2 and I’m already thinking about this! I’m excited to see how he turns out (and to find out whether I’ve done an OK job as a parent) but I also wish I could freeze time right now forever as he’s so cute and original and funny! I already know that I’m going to look back sadly at these days when it’s so easy to make him laugh and when he finds everything we do so much fun!

My son is 17 months old. I burst into tears the other day at the thought of him leaving home! I am currently very pregnant, so I am blaming hormones!!

You have all made me cry!! Just hit 50, so hormones a bit all over the place. Feel especially guilty as I had to go back to work when he was 6 months, we managed with 2.5 days nursery/grandparents/flexitime. Must be tough at this time of C virus. DS still makes me smile/chuckle daily, I am still a teenager at heart and love to have daft fun together. DH is younger than me but not quite as fun-loving, despite my best efforts, I will need to keep trying.
For you others, treasure every moment, it flies by! Thank you so much.