If I counted how many times people have said “How are the Empty Nesters?”, the number of days would be piled up in a row of lounging around doing whatever parents do with no children at home.
But what has been so interesting up to this point, is how far from the truth that this thing called “empty nesting” is with all 3 children attending college. In this digital age of communicating, we have plenty of time for FaceTime, texts and emails, which is terrific. But, for those of you who can relate, think back to the point in time when the payphone was located in the hallway of your dorm. I believe I may have dialed home on Sundays to check in or ask for money. (Which arrived in the form of a check via snail mail, not Venmo) It seems there is never an inconvenient time that our kids do not want to talk.
Not to mention the number of trips we have made to visit our kids between all 3 of them. One trip each for move in day, Homecoming and Parent’s Weekend (which really is just another reason to go and take them out and refill their grocery supply). And then, the trips for them back home – I believe one of my three has visited 3 separate weekends and it is a 7 hour drive (mainly due to a significant other still close to home).
At any rate, there are some unique differences worth telling for sure.
Top noticeable differences are:
- Run dishwasher once a week vs once a day.
- Half-gallon of milk goes bad in frig.
- No longer can kid take blame for only a smidge left at the bottom of brand new pint of Ben & Jerry’s.
- Ditto above for peanut butter.
- Car parked - full tank - in garage - as left - day before.
- A match to a pair of gloves exists.
- Amazon deliveries are way down.
- Cash remains in my wallet (most every time).
- I always know where my phone charger is.
- I leave the house one way and it is the same when I arrive home.
- No unidentified articles liked melted chapsticks in dryer.
But with all that is different, so much stays the same.
- Worrying when someone drives on way home or while at home.
- Laundry pile up over a visit.a
- Phone calls and texts any time of the day.
- Dog still not walked enough.
- Front walkway rarely shoveled.
I am sure there will be a day when the nest is truly empty, but if you ask my sister who now has 3 grand babies, with her children and in-laws combined, she has even more people visiting her than ever.
More laundry, more food, more dishes and best thing ever, more and more LOVE!