I am back to running, which I love, on a regular schedule, and am “training” for a 10K event in November. We have gone out to eat on a weeknight most weeks since we left our daughter in school, more walks and bike rides. I do have some “projects” that I want to get to as well, but just haven’t gotten around to starting yet. Our life is pretty simple.
Not having trouble filling time either. I work full time and am out the door at 5:30am and home a bit after 3 usually having stopped at the grocery store. Some chill time, regroup, walk the dog, this and that and I’m ready for bed. I am enjoying having some unstructured weekend time. I have been cleaning closets which could go o for some time. It’s actually kind of fun and I’m finding some funny things that I’d saved.
I was very hesitant to jump in to any kind of volunteer project having over volunteer at times when the kids were in school with coaching, band and other stuff. However, the other day a client mentioned sewing bags for “Days For Girls International” who do hand, reusable menstrual supply kits for girls in Africa. I am a fabric hoarder and that’s one thing that I need to clean out of my closet. I spent last evening reading up on their web site and down loading patterns and instructions. I feel like this is really something that I can do both time and skill-wise and I feel strongly about the goals. I am working up a plan to start sewing by November. (gotta clean the closet and create sewing space again first)
@rumrunner - I was thoroughly enjoying your video, laughing even, until the “daughter’s eyes” soundtrack part. Not fair!
Thanks for sharing that link @saintfan. I sent it to my daughter because she loves to sew. (Not that she has any time for sewing right now!). She is a totally self-taught seamstress and amazing at it really. My mom is great at sewing too, but apparently the sewing gene skips a generation!
Hope everyone is doing okay.
This weekend, I visited son at school for the first time since drop off. We went to dinner and a movie. He’s doing great in three classes. His two not-so-good classes are due to a complete failure to turn in homework on time. He’s still getting use to self-regulating his life, but there has been an improvement. Also, checked out his room. I wouldn’t leave until he cleaned his room and did his laundry. Something he hadn’t done since move in!!! :!!
I got an unsolicited phone call last night and he didn’t want anything! He called just to visit. :)]
I haven’t had that much time to actually miss my daughter since she has been home 3 times since leaving. on August 22nd. I wish she was happier both with her school and in life. She’s dealing with a break up and just generally missing her friends from home. Next weekend will make the third in a row where she hasn’t stayed at her school , but she has gone to see friends at their schools…I am hoping at some point she will make some connections at her own, but it doesn’t seem all that likely at the moment 
These may be the most bittersweet times for us parents. My parting words to my son after the visit were, “Nothing is going to keep me from worrying about you.” His response was, “Nothing is going to keep me from missing you.”
Our role as parents is never really done. It just shifts. And missing them happens even after college. I haven’t heard from D2 in a week; she usually texts. I’m sure she’s ok. just wrapped up in her new life. And D1 and her bf, who live around the corner, are making dinner for me, tomorrow night. I just did the thing of taking her car in for some not-cheap repairs and inspection, going back when addl part came in, paying (she’ll reimburse me when a big check comes in.) Things just shift.
My husband took our daughter back to school a few hours ago…she has been reticent to driving on the highways outside of our area so the last two visits have been an excellent opportunity to navigate heavier interstate traffic ( thank God without me 
)
It has been a great opportunity for them to bond as well as prep her for the inevitable driving she will need to master
lje62, I’m sorry to hear your D still seems unattached to her school. Does she have a car that is allowing her to leave campus on weekends to come home or go visit friends? It’s tough for her to understand, but it’s going to be hard for her to grow attached to her school if she leaves every weekend seeking fun elsewhere.
My D is home for fall break. Great having her here even for 4 appreciated but short days! Almost half way through the semester!
abasket , her trips have been pre-planned revolving around concerts mostly…this weekend was because some of her friends were coming home for the first time since summer. Unfortunately, she is also going away next weekend for another concert , but I don’t think she wants to be away the entire weekend . She made a friend in her travels last week that goes to a school sort of near her and they have a date …two weeks from now , haha ! That, so far i the closest thing to her wanting to stick around so my husband and I are hopeful …fingers crossed
Oh , and her car is home…she is spending a lot of money on trains and Mega bus
We can only visit on Skype. Daughter has a fall break starting next weekend and she is going to visit our best friends,her godparents. Wish it was us. We’ll be halfway to Christmas break then. We do miss her.
I met up with my daughter to attend a destination wedding this weekend. It was very emotional–the father of the bride, my brother, passed away in June at age 59. We were all hoping he’d be able to attend but it was not to be.
The wedding was spectacular, thanks to hard work by the bride and groom. They married on the beach and the sun set behind everyone dancing the night away.
Logistics to get there were very difficult (and $$$) and became more so last night when my daughter missed her flight back to school when the connection was late. She absolutely had to get back by 9 a.m. and there was no way to manage it except what we did: she corralled a friend to drive halfway and I drove her half way. Total round trip for them and me: 7 hours. I am glad I am retired. I am exhausted! But it was wonderful to have so much time with her.
Old mom, you are such a good mom, and that friend, just Wow!
Wow @oldmom4896 talk about bittersweet, the joyous occasion of your nieces wedding with the pain of the loss of your brother. What a blessing that you could be there. Sorry the logistics of travel were a hassle. You did get an extra bit of time with your girl as a result.
I’m sorry about your brother, oldmom. But even with the travel hassle I am glad that you were able to be there for your niece and her family. I am sure that meant a lot to her.
One thing that is really hard is when my daughter calls upset and I can’t give her a hug. She iwas Skyping and crying today and it breaks my heart.
She had two exams this week that she felt well prepared for and there was material on both that was not covered in class or in the text/materials or the study groups for the classes. Teachers were probably reusing tests and hadn’t gotten to that material yet this year for whatever reason. But, telling my daughter that is likely what happened doesn’t make my daughter feel any better. She was very frustrated to face material on the tests that she had never seen before. And she feels a bit defeated because she has worked hard to get the grades she had going into the tests.
I know that she is not likely to maintain the same extremely high GPA as she did in high school, but she sure is trying. As a mental health person, I am not sure how this approach is growth enhancing, except for reinforcing that “life’s not fair.” Oh well. Tomorrow will be a new day.
Awww, so true, NMom
Encourage her to get to office hours and not just discuss the tests, but have something intelligent to say or ask about. Forge an impression with the teacher.