If you have an empty nest or partial empty nest, which one of these things would you pick today to have again? You can only choose one. You can’t take the high road and say none because life was great then and life is great now (lol).
Maybe explain why you choose the one you choose - or if you like explain why you DIDN’T choose another option.
This is just for fun. No judging. Don’t overthink it.
Which One Would You Choose Today?
Watch your kids play sports/perform again.
Take a family vacation with everyone together.
Go back to the toddler years.
Lose the hot flashes, meno-belly or something similar in males. (sorry, I think the survey was orginally intended for women!)
It is hard to not choose #1 because watching my son in sports was so, so wonderful - I loved that part of his life! D1 and D2 did minimal sports and then dance but I rule this one out.
I choose #3. I ADORED the toddler years. A little person forming. All the milestones. Still a baby face. Learning language. Love “you” SOOO much. Always called them “terrific two’s”!
#1 for me. I miss seeing games, recitals, competitions, and shows. It was such a big big part of our D’s childhood from age 3 until she graduated from college. Now we go see other people’s kids do those things. Still enjoyable but not the same!
#1 for me. If I generalize my 3 children’s performance, it was D1 music and plays, D2 dance and plays, S sports, mostly baseball and soccer. I miss all of that.
However, now in their 30s, D1 is in a community orchestra, D2 does mountain biking events with her husband and S plays softball. Still get to see but in a much more casual setting generally. And we are usually hanging out with their kids while enjoying the events.
And I love watching them be the parents for similar activities.
We actually travel more as a family now. As for the toddler phase, we have GD for that! (and we can give her back).
Definitely miss watching my kids play sports, perform in school musicals, D’s dance performances (studio and school teams) as well as S’s academic competitions.
#1, for sure. #2 is still on the table for us, though much harder than it used to be, but to have a Saturday on the sidelines of the soccer field or in the auditorium for a school play or dance recital again? Priceless.
I’m feeling very lucky because I am combining #1 and #2 this week. Traveling across the country with Kid 2 to go see Kid 3 in a concert, and also exploring the east coast for a few days.
Whenever I pine for #3, I remember being up all night in a chair with a feverish kid sick and sleeping on my chest. And then going to work in the morning. While I cherish the toddler years, I do appreciate a good night’s sleep.
I miss taking my girls to the zoo. Back when D1 was 7-10 and D2 was 3-6 and money was tight we would buy a zoo membership. I would pack some lunches and grab the wagon and take the girls to the zoo to give my DW a break. We went all the time. 2-3 times a month year round even when the weather was cold. The girls got to know the zookeepers some. The zoo even put picnic tables in the area we would always eat so we could be away from the crowds.
D2 knows about so many animals. Just miss those times.
#2 for sure. We still do family vacations some but it’s getting more and more complicated.
No to toddler years. So needy and never a moment to myself without some sticky hot hands grabbing me. Loved them then but I am too old and tired for that now.
My kids did dance and theater and I was very happy they did (another great way to learn teamwork for kids not at all interested in competitive sports) but there was always a lot of angst leading up to it. So that’s a no too.
Hot flashes and memo belly I would also gladly give up! But I’d rather have the family vacation time.
#2 would be lovely, as it would mean that we’d all be getting along and would want to spend time together. Unfortunately, S and DiL don’t care to be around D and SiL any more than necessary due to their political and conspiracy theory rants that never seem to stop.
I didn’t find #1 all that enjoyable when our kids were young (too stressful), but I’ll probably attend more games and recitals for our grandchildren.
#3 - no thanks, it was exhausting. We’re frequent babysitters now and it’s tiring enough although it’s more fun. We can’t wait to have them here in the morning and are ready for them to go home at the end of the day.
Two weeks ago, I flew to watch ds1 COACH a team, lol, that’s how sports-crazy we are. I really think some of our happiest days as a family were spent at ballfields and courts.
I love toddlers but I had way too many at once and it was work, although I’d love to do it for a day. We vacation once a year as a family, that’s more than we did when they were growing up. Big sports/music family so I’m going with #1, although dd14 performs with bands several nights a week, they’re always like an hour away at night, but I do see her when she’s local. H’s band is performing this weekend at a fundraiser. Dd19 is still running 10 Mike and half marathons, would love to see her dance. I never thought I’d say this but I miss soccer, spent so much time watching soccer. Never made it to any college club games. I loved the social aspect of being a sports parent. #4 - I’ve given up!
