<p>eyemamom - I feel the same when my girls do not prefer to stay with me, but it is better that they are happy to be with their friends. Your H is a great dad.</p>
<p>That is just beautiful oldfort.</p>
<p>Well that gives me hope for humanity oldfort - too bad you didn’t get it back before the hassle of replacing everything!</p>
<p>Nice to get the wallet itself, though - if I recall correctly, it was a gift from her sister.</p>
<p>weatherga - you have a good memory. Yes, that’s what she is most thrilled about, to get the actual wallet back. I called D1 to let her also. She said, “I know, she texted me already.”</p>
<p>Thanks for the tips from several, I did check at D’s dorm does stay open over spring break. Not that hanging around there for a week is our first choice. Would like her to find something to do then. We might lean towards her coming home, she seems kind of down on returning to school, I think it is being around so many people and not having as much alone time as she did when home. We’ll play it by ear.</p>
<p>Glad oldfort’s D’s wallet was returned!</p>
<p>oldfort, having everything there at least means not having to watch all the charge bills or checking her credit to see if someone used her ID. </p>
<p>I once had my wallet stolen and they ditched it by a Penny’s and the security guard found it. Only my money was gone so I was pretty happy.</p>
<p>eyemamom - I totally agree with you about worrying less while they’re at school. I try not to worry when they’re home but it’s much more difficult. Odds are so greatly in your favor that nothing will happen in either place but it’s sort of “out of sight, out of mind” and that works just fine for me!</p>
<p>Lakemom- I wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that it means you don’t have to watch for identity theft just because the cards and ID were in the wallet. They could have written down all the numbers and information without taking the actual cards.</p>
<p>Oldfort - glad to hear the wallet came back at least. We are also struggling with the spring break issue in our house. We have to go out of town for a tournament, and she cannot join us becuse we have to elave Thursday. So she is deciding whether to come home and hang with her roommate at our house or to go somewhere.</p>
<p>Also, I decided today that it is a good thing we have a cat that she adores. Whenever I have not heard from her for a few days, i text a pic of the cat doing something incredibly cute (which he does all the time). That always prompts some response, and i know all is well. hahaha. Sneaky mom.</p>
<p>^^^^ same tactic here with same results :)</p>
<p>^ genius. </p>
<p>People keep asking which colleges we’re going to visit during Spring Break for S14 (the kids have the same break! Woohoo!). Answer: none. I still have PTSD from visits last year. We’re goin’ to Hawaii.</p>
<p>Hi everyone. I haven’t really posted here in months. It has been an adjustment for us having D leave. We hear from her regularly, but still miss her terribly. It was great to have her here for break, but she had to go back. We tried to make the most of our time with her. She is talking about perhaps not coming home for the summer, and I will certainly be sad if that is the case, but she has to do what she thinks best for her personal goals. AND, it is boring here (not really said out loud, but we know it.) I am not sure how my own adjustment will be for the long term. I really put a lot into parenting her until she went off to school, and now, I feel like I have to put together the pieces. I have a job, which keeps me busy, but I need to find more outside activities.</p>
<p>Anyone with experience have some words of wisdom? Did you pick up new interests or make changes?</p>
<p>I wish I was more relaxed while she is away, as amtc suggested above, but I am quite the opposite. I find myself worrying, even if I know that she is probably in the library studying. Not necessarily the most rational thought, I know. Well, I will sign off so as not to be too much of a downer. </p>
<p>Seriously though, for those who have been through this, please, advice would be appreciated. TYIA.</p>
<p>I’ll start anothermom2 - find some new hobbies or restart old ones. </p>
<p>Try finding a book group or if there is none, start one with two friends who invite 2 friends that you might not know or know well. That’s 7 people which is a good number to begin with.</p>
<p>Learn a new game - mah jongg is a current favorite in your area but there’s also bridge or pool or bowling or whatever. Find a group or create one also.</p>
<p>I ran into an old friend who’s an empty nester for a few years now and she laughed when she saw us playing mah jongg (we were playing in a local coffee house). She played years ago and wanted to join but she already has her knitting group night, her book group night, and her restaurant night (they try new restaurants twice a month). She would love to fit in a mah jongg night!</p>
<p>I do book group (once a month), mah jongg (two times/week), and see a play (once a month). I took piano lessons (on a keyboard) when my daughter was a senior but stopped last April. I’m going to start up again in February.</p>
<p>Doing these things doesn’t just mean making time for you, it allows you to gather with other women, discuss issues that are important to you (like your daughter) and keep your brain working. Good luck!</p>
<p>“Also, I decided today that it is a good thing we have a cat that she adores. Whenever I have not heard from her for a few days, i text a pic of the cat doing something incredibly cute (which he does all the time). That always prompts some response, and i know all is well. hahaha. Sneaky mom.” - Momofa12</p>
<p>I do the same thing, but I text a picture of DD’s 7-year-old brother . . . works every time ;)</p>
<p>I tried to book at least one weekend a month with an activity. I’ve taken lessons at the art museum, attended lay seminary classes, etc. I’m also reading more and making more time for exercise.</p>
<p>I’ve got a Girl Scout troop, again. Cadettes–mostly 8th graders. It certainly keeps me busy.</p>
<p>I have been approached to coach the Color Guard next fall so that may take up lonely times.</p>
<p>anothermom2 - sorry you’re missing your girl so much. You must have a really close relationship. I think activities are great, but I’d also suggest cultivating some real girlfriend friendships. We all let those slide while busy raising kids, but do you have any friends or ladies you’ve met that you click with that you’d like to start hanging out with? I always feel a ton happier when I have the kinds of friends I can just pick up the phone and call for no reason.</p>
<p>Good ideas from mathinokc, Mom2M, MizzBee. I’ve lately been finding more time for exercise too. Between us, DH and I have also been catching up with some previously neglected home maintenance and family financial management. Those are not tremendously fun activities, but they are important, and it’s good to have more time for them.</p>