EMPTY NEST SUPPORT THREAD-Part 2

[MissMarplesBloomers]

Part one lasted seven years! Thanks RustyBear for the great idea.

I have one DD off this year and another one starting Sixth form so will be here for a few years!

So how are all the DC's getting on with the lists/packing etc?

Home after dropping DD off and thank god DH has an estate car is all I can say! She'd forgot a couple of computer cables so we went to buy replacements and came back to find her putting up posters and making the room 'hers' and we were told to go home and leave her to sort things out.

She's another one who doesn't drink and has nerdy (her words) hobbies so she's worried she'll be the odd one out but her flatmates have been having group chats on bookface so fingers crossed they all get along irl.

She's promised to skype later - but only so she can see her dog!

Good luck Marshy and all those making the trip this weekend.

DS1 is off tomorrow and DS2 next weekend.

I might even get to see my garage floor again

Oh, and hello to those bringing their DC to Manchester.

We've just got back from taking dd2. She was very excited about it all although she said she did feel slightly sick with nerves.
We also got asked to leave earlier than we expected, which I suppose is a good sign.

It felt very strange on the way back home. Dd1 has already left home so it's just Dh and I now. Its going to get a bit of getting used to, not having any children around.

ExcuseTypos - that will be us next weekend. It is going to feel very strange after 22 years.

I know we will get used to it but it does indeed feel a bit strange and sad tonight.

Am I the only household where everyone seems to have been stroppy and argumentative in the run up to the departure? ds1 and ds3 never argue much but the last few days they have been at each others necks. I'm putting it down to the upcoming change but it makes me sad because we should be enjoying these last few days together rather than all of us being on such a short fuse.

No you're not alone eatyourveg, all a bit wound up here too. Dd1 is off in the morning. We just wanted to sit and relax this evening but are still finding things that need to be sorted out.

To add to the pressure she has been offered an interview for a part time job on Monday, just as she is trying to settle in. In at the deep end seems an under statement.

I've just had a text from DD

She's gone for a drink with her flatmates and some others from the flat above.

I'd had nightmares of her sitting in her room, all on her own on her first night. I'm feeling rather relieved she isn't!

DD2 was very wound up. Her moods were unusual for about a month before we left. I was very glad her two good friends came to help her pack the car the night before we left because otherwise it would have got a bit hairy around here. I decided in light of the jitters to do all the driving myself - we had planned to have me do a total of 7 hours split up and DD do the middle 6 or so but in the end I thought she was too preoccupied. And also that I myself would have been too uptight to relax much while she drove. It worked out fine when we played the usual driving roles.

[wine[ for those who need it!

Going to be foul weather tomorrow, apparently so batten down those heavy loads people!!!

Excuse Sounds encouraging! Notso Like the way dog has priority!!

Bugger....

must remember to preview.......

Safe journey to all those travelling tomorrow! We still have 10 days to go...

Well DD3 is in her flat at Bolton uni. We did some shopping together then DH set up her laptop and printer. We left her chatting to her new flat mates and arranging what time they were all setting out to tonight's Freshers event, DH and I are staying in Bolton tonight and meeting her for lunch tomorrow. So haven't quite left her properly yet. It did seem strange leaving her in the flat tonight but I'm sure I"m going to get very emotional tomorrow.

Fellow parents... Whatsapp. Bloody brilliant - real time photo and text messaging. Tonight I've "met" some of DD2's friends and shared DS's bedtime routine with her.

Yep .... I blubbed .... And then in the car I blubbed a little more ...

DS is off next weekend- youngest of 4 DCs and I am preparing to be very emotional. He has organised nothing, so we are planning a big shop tomorrow. I am finding this thread very supportive. Good luck to all your DCs.

We went into Cambridge today to collect the key and book in, and take half of DS's stuff. It's a horrible journey but I suppose it's never going to be a good one, and no-one remembered to tell us that as there is so little parking space, we should have booked a delivery slot, but they let us in anyway. We put down a rug, made up the bed and put away all his dried foods and cooking stuff and sorted out the bathroom, and it helped with the worry and calmed me down a bit, being able to see his room and visualise him in it. We are taking him back again next week with clothes, musical instruments and fresh food to start him off. He is getting so bored, despite having so many hobbies, he just wants to get the start over and done with. He is quite stressed and has come out in lumps all down his legs, even though he is looking forward to it. The flat in the private halls is lovely, and even though it is going to cripple us, I am really glad we got him into it.

So next Friday it will be me sobbing my way back home - I nearly did it today, and he was in the back of the car at the time! It's the end of an era for me. Think I shall put out an advert for a substitute teenager, for someone to wake me coming in at three am, so that I can find the fridge empty the next morning, and show me daft clips on youtube.

madeofkent your advert comment reminded me of my dp. I went off to uni and came back for reading week (Oct half term) df picked me up from the station and then just as we got to our village announced I would be sleeping in my db's room as they had rented out my room to a student doctor at the hospital. ds's room is the biggest in the house and his db's want it but its staying empty even though ds's tenancy agreement is 51 weeks.

Long chat with DD last night when I could tell she was holding back the tears, she'd knocked on the door of one of the girls and was told to go away so she walked into the city centre. Came back and everyone was still in their rooms with doors closed and she didn't know what to do.

Much later the first girl came into the kitchen and apologised saying she'd been crying when DD knocked. The walls are that thin the others heard and all came out confessing they'd been feeling the same so they had a group hug and sat up chatting. I finally got my nightnight text at 4am.

Thinking of everyone moving in today, drive safely x

Oh gosh Notso, you must have been in bits. Im so glad they all came out of their rooms.

I had another text this morning for dd. They went out and now has a huge hangover. She said she didn't sleep a wink but is ok. She's not a big drinker at all but I suppose it's better she went out than sat inside on her own.

Thanks ET, the hard part is she's travelled up and down the country for years meeting friends with similar interests and even went to Japan by herself so I've done the tearful farewells and worrying already. As a result she's very resilient and independent and I suppose she expected the others to be the same. Her biggest fear was that the first night would be a big p*ss party and the others would think she was a baby because she doesn't drink.

Glad all is well Notso

DS2 doesn't drink at all and he had the same fears about being the odd one out. Thankfully, somebody was "brave" enough to post on facebook that they didn't drink much and was worried. Cue a couple of hundred replies from other students saying pretty much the same thing and a lot of them are now organising cinema / pizza nights. There's also the "tea drinking society"

That has made him feel much better for when he goes next week.

Just home from Newcastle, all went well, but verrrry looooong way. Dd was out last night drinking with others. And off to a club tonight too. I am a total mess now back home :(

for MABS

The horrible weather is not helping much with these journeys.