DS/DD off to Uni? - Empty nest support thread

[rustybear]

DS is off to Warwick in October - anyone else feeling old? Or are there any old hands with advice ?

DS2 is home tonight

mainly because he went to a gig in Manchester with a friend last night (& also had run out of underwear...) Not sure which was more of a nudge but anyway, it's very nice to see him (he hasn't changed a bit) & also to know that he is changing his clothes!

Do parents go to this matriculation thingy or is it just for students? Do parents ever go to college dinners? I'm not that keen to go but will support DD if its the done thing. What did other mums and dads do?

glad the DC are OK so far, ponders and betelguese DD now has a sore throat and wild pics on facebook. we need more variety of emoticons.

Go to matriculation ? I didn't even know it was an option! Parents can't go in the Sheldonian ( or so DD told me ) so it would just be a question of hovering around outside to get a glimpse of DD/DS in subfusc before they rushed off to the pub with their new friends. I suppose parents could take said child out for lunch but it's so soon after beginning of term, surely a later date would be better....

< waits for betelguese and yellowstone to come and tell me that ALL parents go along on the day and indeed are invited to do so by loving child >

And ditto the college dinners. Why would parents be invited/ go along to those?

Well done to DS Betelguese, marked within a day?

Hahahaha Fififi not a chance. Haven't heard from DD3 since blackmailing her into communication. Haven't been to a matriculation yet and doubt I ever will. Having said that, we do live hours away. I am going to visit the DDs with their siblings at half-term but that's for a fund-raising dinner specifically aimed at parents and it's unusual in the extreme.

I like noughth week funny and also bumps.

well done to your DS betelguese hopefully no need for rustication then !
I am fine with the empty nest atm the weekend was nice. I did some gardening, chatted with parents and friends and did not go shopping for teenagers clothes! yellowstone the freshers are having a very busy time by the sound of it. Luckily DD has rung, told me very sweetly I still have a role as her life support machine, says she is coming home in three weeks.

My first day of empty-ish nest! We dropped off DD just yesterday at York (must be the last uni to go back), DS already back at Bristol, DD2 at school. Now if I tidy up or clean something it'll stay that way for at least a while!

Already had several texts from DD - one working shower for 15 people!! Takes me back....

Sounds as if DD2 enjoyed the freshers' week No side effects other than a drowned phone (champagne!) and the good old sore throat/sniffle.

Has met all her tutors and was impressed that they sat with them at the dinner.
:)

Yes I am not sure why they get the sore throat- lots and lots of talking I suppose, and new respiratory droplet germs from all over the country- rather like when they first went to nursery and were exposed to germs other than from home. Interesting.

It's the exposure to germs from all over the country funny. Mine used to be the same when we started at any new army base. Gives the lie to the idea that Oxford is full of students from a very small number of schools centred in the SE ! :)

It's a common thing for Freshers to get sore throats and colds. In fact they often call it Fresher's flu although it's not really flu. I think it's because they are mixing with lots of different people.

What does everyone do with the spare time and energy? I find that the option of going back to work full time isn't as easy as it sounds because one is up against all the bright, younger, more energetic people and a (lets face it) ageist culture. No one wants an ex mum in her fifties unless its as a cleaner- or so I perceive. Especially if not particularly glamorous looking.What does one write on the c/v?
Then there is the culture issue - its true that I love classical music and art but has anyone else found that going out without any arguments feels very odd- I can't seem to motivate myself and I am finding it hard to take culture as a main activity rather than a leisure activity very seriously
Other professionals my age are busy with senior strategic stuff and having a ball with their income. How does an empty nester who hasn't always worked full time do that?

funny There's lots of different types of voluntary work you could think about doing - from the CAB to charity shops, Homestart to the Samaritans Alternatively you could study yourself via the OU or local college. Or maybe think about fostering?

Volunteering would help with your CV if you did decide to seek employment.

funny I volunteer at the CAB, the training is really good and its certainly varied. I started it because I do some freelance work at home and I'm studying with OU so I wasn't having any contact with other people. I'm about to start my full adviser training next week so am thinking of moving a tent into the corner of the office for me as I'm going to be there so much over the next few months!