<p>It is hard for me. In my younger years I had an empty nest for part of a year and welcomed it, because I had been single-parenting for so long and needed time to myself. Im older now and have had more alone time, even though the single parenting has continued. Now its just me and the dog. Unfortunately I am in a new location so I dont have a ready-made group of friends and find its hard to strike up new friendships.</p>
<p>Im grateful that I have the company of the dog but she does keep me from doing some things, such as hiking with a group which would involve being gone 12 hours and hiking where dogs are not allowed.</p>
<p>I work fulltime and just try to stay busy. Ive joined some book clubs and took up bicycling again. Theres plenty of time for reading and projects. </p>
<p>I live REALLY far away from where my D goes to school and my other (grown) kids are scattered across the continent. I have made it to three parent weekends so far (in 2 academic years) and find them well worth the cost and effort. Seeing how happy D is at school reinforces my conviction that were doing the right thing.</p>
<p>My situation is a little odd because with no children at home, I would like to live elsewhere, but because Ds noncustodial parent lives here I need to stay here to be the connection. (I dont want to go into all the personal details, and Ive searched for other solutions, but it always comes back to me staying here till D graduates.)</p>
<p>I know some other cc parents have said to be sure to consider your other local possibilities. For us, there were none, just a run of the mill public school which D had been enduring already for many years.</p>
<p>If your kids want to go to BS and you think it will serve them well, go for it, and just look at the empty nest as part of what you are doing for your kids. Its an adjustment, but it was on the horizon anyway.</p>