It's almost over...2017 Year End Wrap Up.

Parent Cafe
1

With just a few days remaining it’s time to take a look back at 2017.
How was your year?

My year was eventful and not all in a good way. On the negative side I lost my Dad in April and miss him every day. My Mom was moved to assisted living and their house is sold. My visits home remind me that a part of my life is gone forever. In addition we had to put our dog down after 13 years (she was a 3 year old rescue when we adopted).

I won’t go into politics.

On the good side: my kids are moving on well. S is finishing his last year of college and has a good job lined up starting next fall. D was accepted into some good MBA programs and she and SIL will be moving to the city of whatever school she chooses.

Also on the good side was my job change. After almost 9 years I accepted a position in a different department of my company. The new job is much less stressful, the hours are regular and I don’t have to plan much of my life around month/quarter/year end closing. Also it’s fun learning something new. In addition while I liked my former co- workers I feel much closer to my new ones. That was an added bonus!

There was a lot of smaller stuff, too. We attended 3 weddings, had a really fun family reunion, dealt with some unexpected home improvement after a dishwasher flood, etc.

Oh yeah, my 60th birthday was in there somewhere.

2

My year was eventful and it was just about all good. We finished renovating our bathrooms and are enjoying their newness very very much. We cleaned out the garage after five years of living in this house and can finally put two cars in it! S1 was awarded his doctorate in May and got married in October. Lots of happy planning for that event! S2 started a new job that he’s really enjoying. My health has remained excellent and, though DH’s is not, he is being well-monitored and likes his stable of physicians.

If 2018 is as good as 2017, I’ll remain a happy woman.

3

My family has had a good year. Everyone is happy and healthy. The bad moments have been fleeting and not too bad.

But some of our friends have had a real rough time.

My 17 year old daughter has been to THREE wakes for suicides since this time last year. None of them knew each other, but she knew all 3.

The aunt of one of those suicides is a close family friend. She’s currently in the midst of chem for stage 3 breast cancer

So here’s hoping for a happy, healthy 2018 for all.

4

My year was nice. DS1 came home after college for several months, got a good job and is now on his own. That is mental relief for us. DH and I took a couple trips together. I had a few reunions with friends. No major life changes (that was 2 years ago!}, so I appreciate the status quo. It was just a decent year overall.

5

On the personal side of things my year was great. Everyone is healthy, my mom has a boyfriend (she’s 88 and he’s 74!) S got three job promotions and a huge raise and H and I took some fun trips. I finally got to have both bathrooms completely remodeled (I waited 26 years so a very big deal to me.)

Knocking on wood next year is as good or better.

On the not personal side - this year has been a DISASTER!

6

Very nice thread - please don’t hesitate to post your good AND your bad points in the year. We all need to see that people experience all sides and that life is not a rainbow all the time…BUT that you can often rise above the adversity and move forward.

I’m heading out but will post something later. :slight_smile:

7

2017 had some real highlights and some real sadness. I am going to choose to only focus on the good things in hopes they will continue!

D became engaged to a wonderful young man. She is doing really well in her career and is busy applying to some graduate programs.

H and I enjoyed a wonderful week in Charleston - our first vacation in many, many years. We also attended a family wedding later that summer and were able to enjoy visiting with our extended family, something that again, hadn’t happened in many years.

D and I just had a wonderful weekend in NYC where I had my absolute fantasy trip! We saw Springsteen on Broadway, Hamilton, ate at Osteria Morini, went to Bergdorf’s, had tea at the Plaza and just had the best weekend ever! So much fun.

I had my best race ever and have mastered the Pilates rollover - my goal for the year. Now I can look forward to a great 2018. Hope everyone else can too!

8

I had an eventful year too. I’ll focus on the good.

I walked the Camino de Santiago for 400 miles across northern Spain in May and June with my sister. It was so different from any other type of trip to Europe. Very physical but also very communally oriented with all the other pilgrims coming together helping one another.

We had a couple of family reunions, one at a wedding and another at my mother’s 100th birthday. Both revitalized our family connections and were a lot of fun.

My D got engaged and brought her fiancee home for a “Meet the Parents” week, which was great fun. I think future SIL will fit in just fine.

I am blessed as I lost no one close to me. MIL had a close call but came through.

So with all of life’s stresses it’s good to focus on the good.

9

Very eventful year here too.

My dad died in March, after declining fairly steadily from a stroke a few years ago.

My mom and stepdad bought a “downsize” house and have their older one on the market. Move should be in January.

S’12 who left college after a year saw his band get a lot more popular, managed a restaurant he helped open, and begins a new job in finance next week. He also moved out of my basement a couple of months ago, into his own place nearby.

D’15 continues to do well in college and had/has interesting internships and jobs. She goes abroad for 6 months very soon.

I traveled more this year than most, mostly but not always for fun. I think I left town at least once a month. My business was good, picked up a bit this year.

Our lab mix, now about 14, continues to hang in, enjoying her senior years.

I’ve been on a very low carb diet since July and lost about 35 pounds so far, and find my energy is high and my overall health is good.

10

On the personal side, this year has been great. H and I went to Glacier and Waterton National Parks with my best friend from 8th grade and her H. We had a blast. Also went to Yosemite with BIL and had a nice time. In DC, met our son’s GF (1st person he’s ever introduced us to) and had dinner together and walked around Washington monument.

S is contemplating taking a sabbatical and spending more time in HI. My goddaughter married a great soulmate who makes her gloriously happy and is great for and with her.

D had some new MDs treating her and is motivated to begin exercising more regularly. The new MDs have some new directions they’re exploring that seem to help D have more energy.

My folks moved into a SR community that offer food that is nutritious and convenient for us to visit. Everyone visits them often which helps spread the load out. They went on a trip with my sisters and everything went pretty smoothly, with everyone returning home pretty happy and intact.

My BIL and nephew are at a new, happier phase, where they are getting along better and nephew is moving in a much more positive direction. Niece is engaged and marrying in July.

11

2017 was a fine enough year. There were ups…and downs, but mostly an even year.

Everyone here is healthy. Kids are doing well in their own ways.

Really…a rather ho hum year!

12

Let’s see. My oldest got a job and moved out on his own. He really seems to have found his niche.

I worked on decorating my new house and I’m happy with how it turned out.
I had a big bday party for my sister at my house that was wonderful.
Went to Iceland and had a great time.
Work continued going well, we expanded into 2 new states and my vp that I’m grooming to take over really stepped up.
I lost 50+ lbs and started exercising regularly.

My first full year without my parents. My uncle passed away, my aunt is now in full blown dementia and just moved to a memory care facility. My niece is addicted to heroin, in and out of rehab, my mil is literally killing herself with anxiety about it and it has caused a lot of friction in the family. My in laws health is rapidly deteriorating and they are not doing anything in the slightest to make plans to help themselves.

13

Mixed year for me here.
Started with youngest breaking up with fiance 4 months before wedding.
Then MIL was on the senior center bus when a truck hit it and she had a broken humerus.
My dad did rent the annual 2 weeks at the beach - usually all cousins come on middle weekend, but this year that schedule didn’t work so we had minimal overlap. But dad and all his kids stayed the whole 2 weeks!
My sis is 3 years out of ovarian cancer treatment with no evidence of disease.
Niece got engaged.
Missing the consultation of my late mom and hubby as I solo planned for a large holiday week at my place.
Older DD and SIL sold a condo and bought a house. And though it is very early for general sharing, they will be starting the next generation!
My high stress job has been nudging me toward an early retirement but I have an interview next Tuesday for a less stressful job.

14

Is this the CC equivalent of the Christmas letter? :smiley:

15

@doschicos - difference being we actually tell about not so great things as well.

16

Some of you, @eyemamom. :wink: I’m enjoying all posts regardless. Glad to hear folks happy news, too. We need good news after this kind of year.

17

After a stressful, prolonged process, DH sold his business and will be fully retired in the next few months. Having him home hasn’t been as awkward as I expected it to be, altho I do miss my solitude. We’ve been decluttering in anticpation of putting our house on the market at some point, altho we don’t really know where we’ll be moving to.

S1 and DIL had our first grandchild. That had to be the highlight of the year. Just wish they lived closer so we could see and hold her more often.

S2 finally started grad school part-time to get his master’s. He’s in his first long=term relationship. We haven’t met her yet, and we’re not sure if she’s really right/good for him (don’t worry - we haven’t told him that).

My mother turned 96 this year, and I fully expect it to be her last birthday. She’s in a nursing home, has dementia, barely sees or hears. I know I’ll have mixed feelings when she dies.

18

Big changes for both kiddos. D1 is engaged (yay!), and D2 started grad school in a completely different part of the country. So far so good on both fronts. :slight_smile: I found a less expensive apartment with more character, and just moved into it before the Ds got home for Xmas. So… we might have done a little more unpacking than going out than usual. But it is a good move overall.

Dad is still ticking along well at 90, living independently and threw himself a raucous 90th b-day party a couple of months ago. Fingers crossed that 2018 is another good year for him.

I’m in the hunt for a new project management contract again. I am starting to wonder if I should take a “real job”, though. I’m 55, and the last couple of searches between clients have been more stressful. I’ve shaved years off my resume, and then the phone rings. Once I get the interview, I’m usually good. But it seems to be harder to get them. I’d HATE taking a permanent position – I really like my gig lifestyle. But… it is under consideration. Age discrimination sucks.

My step niece is struggling – in her mid-30s. Long term issues with mental illness and substance abuse. She lost custody of her 2 kids to their dads a couple of years ago. Now she is bouncing around. Was in Colorado for a few months, but then back in my hometown a month or so ago. Her mom (my SIL) helped her rent an apartment – but now she is talking about leaving for Tennessee with a friend. Niece claims there is nothing wrong, and refuses treatment. She hasn’t even been in the new apartment long enough to apply for Medicaid. My poor SIL is at her wit’s end. I’m just trying to lend an ear and be supportive. :frowning:

And I didn’t achieve my New Year’s resolution of dating in 2017. But… there is always 2018!

19

2017 is marking a transition to a new stage.

Our oldest graduated college. We did a post-graduation mother-daughter camping & hiking vacation in June and banked a LOT of happy memories. So lucky.

I moved her out to the east coast to start a new job and new life. I couldn’t be happier for her, and I’m amazed by how confident she is, and how much she is eating up life. (I wasn’t that way at that age!)

Our youngest is in her second year at college and seems to be having a much better year this year. Fingers crossed she continues to make progress re: better mental health.

I joined a hiking club and it’s been very good for me. I’ve met lots of different people, each with interesting & varied life circumstances and stories. This is giving me a sense of hope & excitement as I look ahead at this next stage of life (kids out of the house). Hoo boy, my social circle had gotten shockingly small.

Thru the hiking club, it dawned on me that there are lots of people who are not necessarily looking for their next best friend, but are simply looking for nice, fun people to do things with. I’ve started to reach out and ask people if they’d like to see a movie, or meet for appetizers and a drink, see a band… I don’t need a full calendar, but even an introvert needs something social to look forward to!

I started to see a therapist, to help me with this tangle of middle age feelings, confusion and doubt. I lucked out, and found a good match on the first try. When does that ever happen?! It’s helping a lot. I realized there are loads of things I don’t tell or discuss with anyone! (I’m quiet IRL). It helps to have a neutral sounding board.

We’ve started to fix some neglected things around the house, and we’ve hired someone to come in and clean every 2 weeks. Game-changer! My mood and outlook are signficantly better – more optimistic and hopeful. I would not have guessed what a difference it would make. I can be tight-fisted with money, perhaps aftershocks from H losing his job in 2008, but I’m learning to loosen up & “live a little”.

Marriage? Not sure where that is headed. We live separate lives. Not sure that is as bad as it sounds. We both work unconventional hours, and have different days off. It’s been this way for years. Worked out okay when we were raising the children, but now? IDK. I don’t have to decide anything now.

Some people I do work for are planning to open up yet another business in 2018. If I’m hired for that project as well, I think I’ll finally be able to shift my jobs around and have a better schedule + more income. Boy, that’d be nice. I’m definitely ready for a change.

So many of my friends are caring for, or burying their parents. H & I lost our parents long ago, so we don’t have that. We do have older siblings that are struggling, and that will be hard when it’s their turn.

Good to read all the updates on this thread. The Xmas Letter comment made me laugh.

20

Yes, there’s always 2018. I love the hope and promise of the new year.

My health has continued to be good through 2017. I “graduated” to nine month scans so I am not due for one until February. Hopefully, I am still No Evidence of Disease. The side effects from all the treatment are challenging, but I’m happy to be here.

My mom is 91 and not happy to be here. She is living on her own, but I’m not sure how much longer. She can’t hear and can’t walk much so she’s generally miserable. I just wish she could be happy and have some perspective.

My H and my kids are doing well. They make me happy every day.