Empty Nester Blues

[5MilesBack]

I came home from college one year and walked in the door and my dad was reading the newspaper. He looked up and said "where you living this summer"? I replied "Uhhhhh, I thought I was living here". He says, "not with that hair you aren't.....first stop is the barber shop". My hair was barely below my collar......and it was the 80's. But I understand him now, because I'm the same way.

 

[Sherman]

I have a son that's 6 and one on the way that's due any minute. I absolutely love the stage he's in now and I know that although it seems like I have a bunch of time, it will be here tomorrow. Just wanted to say thanks for making the post. It's great to keep things in perspective.

Cherish. Every. Moment.

One day you will pick up your child and put him/her down not knowing that was the last time you will ever pick them up.

 

[Customweld]

Well, that was a short stay! I’m flying down to El Paso on Friday morning to drive back home with her. She decided she didn’t want to be Texan. Hard to get the Idaho out of a 5th generation girl.

 

[CorbLand]

Well, that was a short stay! I’m flying down to El Paso on Friday morning to drive back home with her. She decided she didn’t want to be Texan. Hard to get the Idaho out of a 5th generation girl.

No matter where I go and/or end up. 208 for life.

 

[displacedtexan]

Well, that was a short stay! I’m flying down to El Paso on Friday morning to drive back home with her. She decided she didn’t want to be Texan. Hard to get the Idaho out of a 5th generation girl.

Don't judge the whole state from El Paso.

Also, note my username. Lol

 

[CorbLand]

Don't judge the whole state from El Paso.

Also, note my username. Lol

I have never been to El Paso and I think Texas blows. El Paso must suck something serious.

 

[Customweld]

Don't judge the whole state from El Paso.

Also, note my username. Lol

I didn't mind visiting El Paso, it's a unique area for sure. In her mind, the whole state was going to be a George Strait music video.

 

[displacedtexan]

El Paso is cool enough, I don't dislike it.

But she learned what I tell people all the time. Texas is a big, diverse place.

 

[schmalzy]

Well, that was a short stay! I’m flying down to El Paso on Friday morning to drive back home with her. She decided she didn’t want to be Texan. Hard to get the Idaho out of a 5th generation girl.

Everyone has different tastes, but I can’t imagine going from Idaho to Texas expect for economical necessity.

Texas has a lot to offer different people, and consequently a lot to be desired for others. I’m thankful for the opportunities Texas provided me and my family, but even more thankful to be out west now.

I can imagine you’re pretty pumped to have her back home.


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[Customweld]

Everyone has different tastes, but I can’t imagine going from Idaho to Texas expect for economical necessity.

Texas has a lot to offer different people, and consequently a lot to be desired for others. I’m thankful for the opportunities Texas provided me and my family, but even more thankful to be out west now.

I can imagine you’re pretty pumped to have her back home.


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I'm pretty excited! She isn't moving back in with us, so it'll be good to have her close to home. She truly is an Idaho kid and missed home.

 

[Tod osier]

I'm pretty excited! She isn't moving back in with us, so it'll be good to have her close to home. She truly is an Idaho kid and missed home.

Great and great thread, BTW. I somehow missed this when it was active the first time, but it does have a lot of wisdom packed in it.

 

[87TT]

 

[IDShane]

I can definitely relate to all of this. My family and I moved to the Boise area from Wisconsin in 2018. Up until the move we were a pretty close knit family and my son and I basically did everything together. When we moved my son was a senior in High School and my daughter was a Sophomore. My son could not wait to move as he really did not like where we were living (small town distressed area) and my daughter was really unhappy with the move. My kids both made good friends in school and basically moved into that life and my wife and I were left to try to figure out life without them being so much a part of our lives. My wife and I have been with each other since she was 16 and I was 18 we are now 47 and 50. Our son still lives with us he is 22 now but he really is never around and my daughter (20) moved out 6 months ago. Our daughter makes an effort to spend time with us and stay in contact but it has been a struggle with my son. On top of that we are new to the area and do not have that long-term friend group to fall back on. It is definitely to get back to what brought you and your significant other together to begin with. I am thankful to read a lot of these posts and realize that everyone goes through this and it will likely get better.

 

[EastHumboldt]

My brothers son finally went off and joined the army at the age of 21. I kept telling him and his wife “If you’re too nice to them they’ll NEVER leave”.

 

[Fowl Play]

Good thread. As a father of two young girls it’s a nice reminder to make the little moments count. They say, on average, you get 19 years with your kids. The first 18, and then holidays for the rest of your life add up to the last year.

It is interesting to see how our American way of life affects families. The moving away at 18 is not so deeply engrained in other cultures. “Family compounds” or all your family being very close are common in many countries. Almost wonder if that’s the way it’s going to need to be in the future the way home prices are going…