My baby is all growed up....Waaaahhhhh!

[wishspirit]

The driving thing was a big one for us, too...especially after he totaled his Explorer.

He's off to college, but not too far away. He is living on campus, but can drive home in about 1 1/2 hours. So that means I can drive there in 1 1/2 hours, too, and if I get desperate, I just may. Okay, I won't, but letting go is hard. DD is in college, but commuting from home, so I get to see her at least once or twice a week, and I see her car in the yard nearly every day.

It's really a difficult thing...you spend 20 years of your life completely devoted to the upbringing of your children, making all your decisions with their best interests in mind, and although you may have a job and a life other than the kids, it's really all about them...then they're ready to go. What do you do? How do you cope? How do you sleep at night? How do you rearrange your life?

It all comes out all right in the end, I know, and it's a process, but it is a challenge.

Best way to deal with it?

My parents planned a holiday away (to Disney) on their own.

You say they are leaving you, but they never really will, my sister still goes home nearly every weekend, and i go home about once a month.

They will always be there, esspecially over holidays and vacations!

Soon you will wonder how you lived with them!

 

[kab407]

Congrats Sweetie!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Thanks so much, everyone!

I woke up feeling a little better about all of it. You're right, Kate...I shouldn't stress about (or look forward to! LOL) my children going away. They really aren't yet. DD has 2 more years of college, DS has 4. I've got them around at least until that is finished.

 

[Regina]

I went through this three times. It's tough, but with college, at least you know they come back home throughout the year. The worst is when they graduate and get jobs that are a bazillion miles from home.

This didn't help, did it??

 

[Launchpad11B]

Hi Mindy, I'm sure you'll stay close to the kids even after they're out of the nest. The relationship changes a bit, but never ends.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I went through this three times. It's tough, but with college, at least you know they come back home throughout the year. The worst is when they graduate and get jobs that are a bazillion miles from home.

This didn't help, did it??

Actually, it did. Baby steps, right? This is just to prepare me for that.



No, you're right. It didn't help. Now you're going to have to buy me 2 moegeetoes.

 

[mommyceratops]

The driving thing was a big one for us, too...especially after he totaled his Explorer.

He's off to college, but not too far away. He is living on campus, but can drive home in about 1 1/2 hours. So that means I can drive there in 1 1/2 hours, too, and if I get desperate, I just may. Okay, I won't, but letting go is hard. DD is in college, but commuting from home, so I get to see her at least once or twice a week, and I see her car in the yard nearly every day.

It's really a difficult thing...you spend 20 years of your life completely devoted to the upbringing of your children, making all your decisions with their best interests in mind, and although you may have a job and a life other than the kids, it's really all about them...then they're ready to go. What do you do? How do you cope? How do you sleep at night? How do you rearrange your life?

It all comes out all right in the end, I know, and it's a process, but it is a challenge.

Thanks Mindy...got me crying and my oldest is 7....

I can't imagine, luckily mine insist they are living at home forever! Although I am sure that wont happen....



How do you cope? You go on a cruise....

Ok going over to Oskey's thread it is more uplifting!

 

[safetymom]

My son insisted when he was young he was going to live with me forever. He was going to build a house in the back yard.

I reminded him of that recently when he moved to Charlotte. He is getting married at the end of this month. I will have to remind him again.

 

[DisDarling]

Congrats Mindy, I am sure it will get better! More time for Will....

 

[Stroller Boy]

Just had to share...my li'l boy graduated HS today. I'm now officially the mother of 2 adults.


This might kill me.



Oh, and it's post 5,000 for me!

Congrats Mindy! Just think, now that the kids have moved on, you can critisize the parenting skills of the rest of us! LOL Ya know, by forgetting that your kids ever behaved badly. Heck, if you ask my mother, I was a saint! Or maybe I am....hmmmmm Nope...definitely not.

Anyhoo, congratulations to you and your son

 

[mommyceratops]

My son insisted when he was young he was going to live with me forever. He was going to build a house in the back yard.

I reminded him of that recently when he moved to Charlotte. He is getting married at the end of this month. I will have to remind him again.

whats his fiance say?!

 

[safetymom]

She lived here with me for a year and a half. She is already part of the family.

 

[Kaler131]

Congrats! My oldest DD (and only daughter) is starting H.S. this fall. It feels like she just started Kindergarten! Time sure does fly doesn't it?!?!
I also can't believe that my oldest DS is now a middle schooler!

 

[onehotdisneymama]

My baby just graduated from college and move to Orlando to work at Disney. I am sad to have her leave home, but I am to see her working at Disney. Being within 1 and 1/2 hours from her makes it much better.

 

[aGoofyMom]

Cognrats! I am really trying to enjoy these years, but DD 6 just went to a "spa" Birthday party - they got maincures and jacuzzi/sauna/pool time. Hey - there's a way to get through - have a spa day!

I can't imagine - and I don't really want to about DD graduating. She is still not allowed to cross the street yet.

I do remember, however, that by the time I finally moved out of my parent's home (at 23, with my DSis 25!) that they were so glad to see us go- my room was redone into a guest room with new paint, wallpaper borders, curtains, and the whole nine yards within 3 weeks. I moved out December 1 & by the time I came home for Christmas it was officially a guest room.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

My son insisted when he was young he was going to live with me forever. He was going to build a house in the back yard.

I reminded him of that recently when he moved to Charlotte. He is getting married at the end of this month. I will have to remind him again.

I've got one kid promising to buy me a Winnebago to live in, and the other promising to build me my own driveway and RV hookup next to the house! DD is the one promising the Winnebago (so I'll go away), DS has the driveway, or so he says (so I'll stick around).

This is why I send them to college. So they can afford my lifestyle.

 

[miss missy]

Congrats! One of mine is 23 and a Dad, made me a GM at 40!!! But I have my GD (9 mos) every weekend and we couldn't be having more fun!! My other is graduating Jr High ... we figure by the time this GD is ready to hang with her friends and "done" with us, like 12 years from now, my DD will be handing me another. So I should have a baby/child around here for the next... ummm 20 years!!!

Time goes by too fast! I so can't believe mine is 23 and I am a grandparent!!

Enjoy them as adults!!! They are soo fun!! And it is cool when they realize we aren't as dumb as they thought LOL

 

[Madi100]

Just had to share...my li'l boy graduated HS today. I'm now officially the mother of 2 adults.


This might kill me.



Oh, and it's post 5,000 for me!

Congratulations! My oldest DD will be starting middle school next year, and I think I handled kindergarten better.

 

[Boardwalker]

Okay, first the 50th birthday thing, then the graduation thing... am I one of your multiple personalities or something? We have a lot in common, except I am on village sewers and have no need of a cystern.

My one and only DD just graduated from college last weekend. She is spendiing the summer near Boston and then going back to Russia and then to Uzbekistan on a grant from some uppity school in Cambridge... miss smarty pants.

Warning to parents of college students, they don't stay where you put them. They go international, and then they will do everything they can to stay there. And then they only go to EPCOT for the fireworks. offtopic: Darn kids. Playing pool and eating sensens.... trouble my friends. Right here in River City... )

The reason I chimed in is that you should know that even though your HS grad is leaving, you still have a year and a half to influence him before he finds you totally antiquated. Use it well. And congrats. To have raised 2 adults and that many posts must have been absolutely exhausting!
With my DD, I had to bite my lip from 1998 on... and it really hurt. Now that she doesn't listen I have loosened my jaw....

 

[DVCsince02]

Congratulations!

I've got some time before I get there, but DD is starting kindergarden this year...... The tears have started already. Luckily #3 will come in time to distract me.