<p>I too will be an empty nester after 22 years. I am quite sad.</p>
<p>Seriously...I've got a spare 8 year-old drama queen available to fill the void. Even if it's just weekends, we can work out a deal I'm sure. Send a PM if you think the grass is greener on the "kids still at home" side of the fence.</p>
<p>Baseballmom - yup, it's definitely the little things that you never thought twice about before that totally smack you in the face now that they're gone; things like passing up that favorite food. In my case, I think it will be not hearing all the little noises (humming, brushing of teeth, shuffling of papers, etc.) that have been the soundtrack of Pup 2's life that are going to force collapse.</p>
<p>D'yer - thanks for the offer. I'll definitely bear that in mind! How does your daughter like her pancakes? I make a pretty mean chocolate chip pancake, if I do say so.</p>
<p>Can you guess what she had for breakfast today? Now that's some serious karma. All we need to do now is get your airport code and book the flight. PM me and we'll wrap it all up post haste. Thanks.</p>
<p>I am in the opposite situation as all of you! I have 2 kids under 2 and we just decided that a 3rd is in our future. I have to hide in the bathroom to get a moment to myself.</p>
<p>Well...now we are officially "empty nesters". Dropped daughter off at college yesterday. This, by the way, was much more labor-intensive than dropping son off at bs. It took many hours and trips to nearby stores to get the room totally up to she and her roommate's specs.
Today, Mr. lyme and I drove to a chocolatier not too far from where we live (but that we'd never had time to visit). Tomorrow we are headed to the White Mts. to knock off two our 4000-footers (we are almost done the list; we started back in the 1980's, but family obligations made it impossible to hike much the past ten years).<br>
I am still sad and do miss the kids, but I certainly do seem to have a lot of time to do things all of a sudden!
I did hear from both kids today; they are enjoying themselves, meeting new people, and no homesickness yet!</p>
<p>That is awesome! You went to the too-busy-to-get-to chocolatier today and you're off TOMORROW! to finish off the White Mountains! No moss is gathering on this empty nest! I pity the White Mountains...as they will surely be no match for the lymes.</p>
<p>Well, the mountains kicked our butt! I am so sore; not just my legs, but my arms, shoulders, and pects as well. This was one steep hill. The route itself was an 11-mile loop; it was flat to an easy uphill grade for the first 2.5 miles. Then it was a moderate uphill for another mile. Then....1600 feet in 1.2 mile....ouch! It was just shy of a technical climb with lots of exposure on steep rock and I was quite certain I would either die or suffer from great physical pain. (The route follows an old land-slide). At the top of the slide, the trail continued very steeply through the woods to the summit. Spectacular views from the top of the slide, I might add. We then crossed all three summits of this mountain, with only two counting toward the 4000-footer list as the southernmost peak does not have the requisite elevation separation from its neighboring peak. Then....the route down from the South peak was another slide. This one was all loose talus for about a mile. I was walking like a drunkard over the last two miles. I guess you could call it fun, though! </p>
<p>Last night we were still tired from our hike, so we grilled out and enjoyed the Sox (Red) game. Tonight we are going to catch our local public hs soccer game (where my son attended last year) and then might hop over to the local state college to see a game as well (we know two boys on the team). We are so addicted to watching our kids play sports, it's hard not to have that going on right now. They literally never stopped, with activities every night. We are just not used to not having somewhere to drive! (Of course, this is temporary while we wait for their school sports to begin).</p>
<p>We have not heard from my bs son since Sunday and mr. lyme is quite distraught. I am less distraught, but slightly baffled. Has he lost his cell phone? Does his computer not work? His sister (at college) has phoned several times; she has not heard from him either. He has never been a caller, though, and has been away several times before. I can only assume that he is busy and all is well. Anyone else experience a freshman who doesn't call much?</p>
<p>Very neat, kylyme. :)
I will be staying on here, waiting for the day that Princess D'yer goes off to boarding school or college, some six or ten years from now, and D'yer Maker will be posting "I take all of my posts back! I would kill to see her in high heels and fairy wings now!"</p>
<p>keylyme...there are only two reason for his not calling.</p>
<h1>1. He is one happy, busy little camper spreading his wings and enjoying his freedom.</h1>
<h1>2. He is a prisoner and has had his cell phone confiscated.</h1>
<p>My money's on #1. :)</p>
<p>No matter how rational and sane it is to believe that silence means success, and no matter how happy we should feel for our child when s/he's too busy with life to report in, there's a certain degree of agony that goes along with not having that information confirmed and not being able to share it and feel a part of it. Suspecting or assuming your child is having the best possible experience is wonderful. Getting debriefed is sweeter still. And the anticipation of that sweet release can be downright excruciating. </p>
<p>(Upon re-reading this, I apologize if it sounds like I lifted it from a teen romance novel; but I'm sticking with it because I think it's right.)</p>
<p>@ prettyckitty: I am unicorned and puppy dogged out for this lifetime. If I ever yearn for the days of overpriced Disney princess paraphernalia, ponies with flowing pink manes and their own curling irons, or stifling my scream after being gouged by Barbie stiletto shoes as I tip-toe from her room after tucking her in, shoot me immediately.</p>
<p>D'yer Maker - be careful what you wish for! I've seen many an 8 year old going on 16 - not a pretty sight. Keep her as young as possible as long as possible. Yeah to the unicorns, princesses and pink!</p>
<p>Just make sure no individual piece of pink paraphernalia has been recalled lately...that could be a full-time job on it's own.</p>
<p>My D is also incommunicado since Sunday. Maybe they've been asked not to phone home for the first week to give them a chance to get settled? She said her roommates are great, her room is fine, and the food is delicious. I guess that's all we really need to know...but it's not enough, dangit!</p>
<p>Cheers, creative1. I remember being eight years old and thinking how absolutely idiotic a select few of my classmates were being. Who CARED if dolls weren't grown up--why did that mean we had to stop playing with them?:)</p>
<p>Two words, D'yer: You wait. Sigh. Boys don't understand anything. ;)</p>
<p>It is probably best not to speak to the students by phone for 2 weeks or so. It is a difficult time for us parents but, remmeber they will be very very busy by design. This will help them adjust and before you know it it willl be "parents weekend".</p>
<p>At the new parents' orientation at Blair last year, the students did 2 funny skits on 1. boarders who call home constantly and 2. boarders who never call home. I knew my kid would never be a #1. I paid close attention to the #2 solutions because that's where I thought I would be. And yes, that is what happens when he goes away. Blair parents bothered by incommunicado kids were encouraged to call the dorm master to get an update. I imagine other schools allow you to do that if you are really wondering how he is doing.</p>
<p>burb parent that's funny lol My Middlesex D calls when money is on the decline and my Westover D if given the chance will be calling every night.</p>
<p>prepparent - DS rarely called home from BS except when finances were tight, but DS now a soph calls from college every week - just to say hi or ask nonsensical questions as to whether I know why the flags were flying half-mast in BOS yesterday...life is great...</p>
<p>creasemonkey, that's encouraging........they do mature and realize that Mom and dad have much more to offer than $$$$$$$$$$$$ smile</p>