Anyone else quite enjoy the Empty Nest?

[hoardingwealth]

Love my kids to bits. Obviously! But I’m quite enjoying this next stage, where they have moved out and are making their own lives. The house is quiet, peaceful, tidy. There are no school runs or jobs that come with having kids at home. I’m sitting here now, watching a documentary with wine, knowing that no one needs picking up from anywhere. I’m enjoying this peaceful phase of life. Anyone else?

Same here! 43 with 5yo (my youngest). It’s a loooong road ahead.

It's a good feeling, sort of "my work here is done". And to see them out in the world and thriving, having their own full lives, is all the reward needed for the hard work it took 😊

I’m only half way there, but I’m left with the one who doesn’t require lifts everywhere and socialises elsewhere. All I did was drive and host when eldest was here. I cry when she goes back to uni for about a week, then get back into my routine and love it. She’s in a relationship so won’t be returning, and I can’t turn her room into a library quick enough!!!

It was awful when my youngest went to uni. The house felt dead and I was bereft. It didn’t help that my brother had just died. But soon it was good. We love the peace and lack of demand. Our kids are great but it feels like it’s time for us now. Having said that, the youngest is back now from uni until his final year starts in September. Another one has been back and forth a million times but is hopefully now settled. You can never count on your empty nest!

Mine were ready to fly .
Love them so much but happy they are off doing life
Tidy & easily maintained house .
Time for ourselves again .
We got a kitten - read what you will into that but loving this stage .

DH and I LOVE it. The kids are doing great so we don't need to worry about them (right now), we are free to do whatever we like whenever we like, the house is so tidy and easy to maintain. But, equally, we love when all the kids come home and embrace the noise and chaos again. I think that's how it's supposed to be!

@hoardingwealth my son went to uni at 18, graduated last year, got a job in his uni city, and isn’t coming back home. Mixed feelings, as he can be quite difficult. He doesn’t keep in touch much, where we live has much less to offer than Bristol it seems..I feel like if I didn’t text, call, or visit him, I might never see him or hear from him again..

Hmm.. I’m ok. But I do miss my dd, even if she was in and out like a mirage.. I miss the chaos of her. Luckily I enjoy dh’s company so I’m ok.

Deeply jealous of all you empty nesters 😂😂😂
love my dc though I do, we’ve had glimpses of what it could be like one day! One came back from uni last year to live and start her ‘proper job’, one is still at uni so a bit of peace on that front and we also have a teen who may not be going to uni.
i’m 41 and on the odd occasion that all 3 are out at once dh and I are like giddy teenagers!

Yes the mix is great. Sometimes quiet and peaceful and other times when they are all around and it’s a bit noisy and expensive. Best of both worlds.

Another thing that I like about grown up (ish) children is the partners. Love the (current) additions to the family.

If only our 2 would move out.

We love it too! I sobbed my heart out when DS went to uni and then again when DD went 3 years later but after a few days DH and I were fully in the swing of loving having the place to ourselves.

We married young and had the children in our mid to late twenties so now we’re doing all the things our friends were doing in their twenties, but we have the money to do it in style! We’re having a brilliant time!

Our two finished uni several years ago and are both now married and settled. It’s so lovely to see them thriving and making their way in the world and we adore spending time with them…..but we also love the fact that it’s just the two of us now.

As a friend with three grown up children said ‘We love it when they come over and we love it when they leave!’

Why did you choose to have them? Do you remember why?

I have decided not to have children

Oh yes. I love my empty next so much I moved abroad!

I cannot wait. Three down one to go. DH would like them to stay for ever. I just want them gone. Love to see them for life lunch or a weekend. But need them and their mess and demands for attention gone.

I just hope my 2 never want to return home.
😉😁😁.

This resonates with me too. I'm sorry, it's a bit rubbish, isn't it. I feel like I am always the one reaching out. I think this will change as they get older.

We now have a guest bedroom and a dressing room 😂I would love to go back for a day to when they were little though.

This always amazes me. My DD was the same every time she had been back and left- during university, leaving to live abroad for e months and more recently moving in with her bf. Every time she leaves her room like she'd gone out for the night 😂

How long are we meant to store things for, especially when they're not even on the same continent!

They left ten years ago in my house, best thing ever (yet obviously love them so much)

I love sitting around in my pj’s cuddling the dogs and drinking endless cups of tea with zero demands on my time. Was fabulous being an active parent but really glad when it was over.

Yes that would be awesome. One day with mine as cuddly two and four year olds!

I'd always have them back if they needed it, if they were in that position it would probably be because life isn't going to plan. DS2 bounced back three times. After uni, then covid messed things up for him, then again in between flats. I absolutely loved it each time, having him home was a bonus I never expected and I was sorry to wave goodbye when he left. However I'm thoroughly overwhelmed that and love the empty nest now.

Omg me too! I feel awful for saying it but I am
loving my new life of no kids at home, everything is so calm and tidy and I never have to think of what to cook for tea. DD graduated last year and I doubt she will come back. DS in 2nd year at Uni but not coming home for summer and wants to move to another city when he graduates next year - he has my full blessings*

*Goes without saying I love them more than life itself of course!!!

This thread makes me feel sad. Its all about how happy you are now that your children are gone. What about how the children feel?

I am the daughter of a mother who always told me that she regretted having children. She wanted a different life. My father also found having children too much of a responsibility , and abandoned us when he met another woman.

My life was a misery from start to now.

Why oh why don't people put more thought into what they do , BEFORE they have children. Of course if you have a child it is going to be an 18 year commitment at least
If you don't want that, dont have a child. Dont have a child and then regret it, and make that child suffer.

This thread makes me feel sad. Its all about how happy you are now that your children are gone. What about how the children feel?

I am the daughter of a mother who always told me that she regretted having children. She wanted a different life. My father also found having children too much of a responsibility , and abandoned us when he met another woman.

My life was a misery from start to now.

Why oh why don't people put more thought into what they do , BEFORE they have children. Of course if you have a child it is going to be an 18 year commitment at least
If you don't want that, dont have a child. Dont have a child and then regret it, and make that child suffer.

This thread makes me feel sad. Its all about how happy you are now that your children are gone. What about how the children feel?

I am the daughter of a mother who always told me that she regretted having children. She wanted a different life. My father also found having children too much of a responsibility , and abandoned us when he met another woman.

My life was a misery from start to now.

Why oh why don't people put more thought into what they do , BEFORE they have children. Of course if you have a child it is going to be an 18 year commitment at least
If you don't want that, dont have a child. Dont have a child and then regret it, and make that child suffer.