To feel unsettled now dd is going to uni next year?

[malificent7]

Obviously I am super proud she is going for it but it is bringing up all sorts of feelings.
Firstly she is moving to london and im so happy for her but I kind of wish I was moving to London too. Even though it would be tough I never got ot put of my system.in my youth.
Its not going to happen but I feel stuck in the sticks as dh and i have commitments.
I yearn for the excitement of my youth.
I made loads of mistakes when I was dds ahe and very happy she is not doing the same but the regret is real.

Well, make plans of your own for the future. These commitments that currently keep you where you are aren’t lifelong, surely?

I think it's very easy to feel a sense of nostalgia and "what ifs" when you look at young people on the cusp of adult life.
I do some holiday play scheme work, and a lot of the seasonal staff that come with that are current A-Level and uni students. I look at them sometimes, their eager young faces, full of stories of travel and adventure and think about how they have their whole lives ahead of them, and all the trials, tribulations and successes they are going to face in the next 15/20 years.
That period from 20 to 40 goes in the blink of an eye.

As for your DD, she's off on her own adventure. It would be unfair for you to tag along, which I'm certain you know. Try and be proud and excited for her, and focus on making your own plans for the future.

Im very proud and excited for her. Im also excited for my new chapter...whatever it might be.

I had a similar situation, DS went off to uni and I felt almost jealous, I'd never been to uni but wanted to and so I decided to look up adult learning courses at a local college. 3 years later and I'm in my 2nd year of a level 4 diploma in therapeutic counselling, working at a counselling agency (voluntary) and it's the best thing I ever did. This time in our lives can be like a second chance to do what we want to do, it doesn't have to feel like it's too late.

This time is entirely what you make of it. Our two have been through uni now and are settled elsewhere. DH and I have thoroughly enjoyed this new season and have had loads of fun!

We got together and had our kids quite young, so we didn’t do lots of travelling and so on that you often associate with your twenties so we’re doing it now. But we’ve got the money and experience to put behind it so I think we’re having an even better time than we would have done when we were young! I really missed DS when he went off to uni and then DD 3 years later but they both had an absolute ball at uni and it was amazing watching them enjoy all the things we had enjoyed at their age and seeing how our kids were ready for the world. It’s given DH and I time and space to reconnect too which has been fantastic. I always thought we had a strong relationship anyway but getting to be just us again gave us the chance to talk and plan and be spontaneous with our time in a way that you can’t when you’re responsible for kids at home. We’ve also matured hugely from the last time we lived together as just a couple and all of those years raising the children together have given us a shared perspective on life that is a strong bond for the years to come.

I can’t recommend this stage of life enough - it’s fantastic!!

Sorry - old thread!! 🤦‍♀️