My baby's off to kindergarten - what do I do now?

[Sleepingbooty]

First of all, Hi I sort of newish here, and I really haven't posted much. I'm a little nervous about actually STARTING a thread - will anybody read it? This is such a HUGE community... and you don't know me yet... will you like me??

Anyway, my youngest just went off to kindergarten (yes, I know its early, we're a year-round system), and I am totally at loose ends. I was so excited for her to go, and now that she's there - it's SOOO depressing! I'm experiencing Empty-Nest Syndrome, I guess. But its just so stinkin' quiet around here! Except right now, I have Disney music playing on Live 365, but you know what I mean - no preschool chatter.

Is anyone out there going through this? Or maybe not yet, unless you are in a year round school, too, but maybe your child will start soon? What are we going to do??

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Go out & have some fun, visit people, get some projects done you have been putting off, take a class, get a job, join a gym, exercise, walk your dog if you have one, volunteer, etc..

My oldest is off to college and my youngest starts 7th grade soon.

 

[EthansMom]

My youngest heads to Kindergarten in about 5.5 weeks.

I think my husband is looking forward to my actually getting/keeping the house clean for a change.

 

[ajk912]

I am going to go get a job during the daytime. More money in the Disney fund, woohoo!! No use staying at home feeling sorry for myself.

If that doesn't work out, I am going to go back to school.

 

[lovepurple]

My baby is starting kindergarten on Aug 5. My oldest will be a senior in college and is engaged to be married. I have another in college and one starting high school. I am fighting off the depression. I will try to stay busy but I am a real estate broker and that isn't working out so great these days either. Maybe I will go back to school too.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

My youngest starts kindergarten at the end of August too . I'll be bawling, I'm sure.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Find out if the school needs volunteers--talk to the PTA if you have one. Find another volunteer opportunity you like.
Get a good book from the library and actually have time to read it.
Find new recipes you want to try and spend the time to make them.
Find a part time job if you would like some extra spending money.
Start cleaning out the closets and get them completely organized.
Alphabetize your sock drawers.
Take up a new appreciation for soap operas.

Or my favorite, Spend your day on the DISboards! Believe me it can suck hours and hours out of your day!

 

[lisajl]

PARTY!!!! No really, umm..I had a little cry. Now that the baby of our family is 12, I marvel at him, his brother that is 15 and his sister that is 23.
Yep...that 23 year old is still here...much to the dismay of her brothers! LOL!
Really enjoy that little bit of freedom that you have. Like a pp said, volunteer, see if the school needs help. Take a little time for yourself.
You deserve it.

Lisa

 

[mamacatnv]

I remember that day vividly - One started highschool and one started Kindergarten.

Have a long chat over coffee with a neighbor or a friend.

Strange thing, I was okay with K relatively speaking but the first day of 1st grade with both kids really got to me. I had my own private pity party, then I realized that babyhood was over and we were entering into a new and exciting phase of childhood.

 

[JVL1018]

K is only half days here, so K was not really any different than preschool, but when he went to 1st and both kids were gone all day, I really missed him-even as I enjoyed the quiet-but I caught up on my reading, went to lunch with friends.. then as the year went on I really stepped up my volunteering at school. I am there at least 2 times as week doing something now. It's fun, I love it!

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

What do you do?

have a fruity rum drink for breakfast, and dance around to bob seger music!

 

[HelenePA]

What do you do?

have a fruity rum drink for breakfast, and dance around to bob seger music!

I'll be down to one kid home come fall.. I'm not looking forward to it..

 

[TanyaLovesPooh]

I remember when my youngest started kindergarten....it was so hard. Just keep yourself busy, which shouldn't be too hard. There aren't enough hours in a day to get everything done. Spend some time taking care of you and have some fun too!

Welcome!!

 

[fun4me]

Aww!! I am right there with you!! My baby starts school Aug. 12th!! He is the youngest of three. I am sure there will be some tears--as always when every one of my boys started school. I've decided I will volunteer at the school more and workout every morning once the boys are out the door. I am going to take care of errands and grocery shopping all by my lonesome.
I am even thinking about taking some classes. Not sure what yet...something that I enjoy doing that might lead to some sort of income. I may get a part time or seasonal job.
In a way I am looking forward to it and in a way I am sad to see that chapter in my life closed.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

Well, in three weeks, my youngest two boys (who are 24 and 27!!!!!!) will be heading to WDW for a year to work in the International program. I am anticipating empty nest syndrome in a BIG way. I am single as well (divorced for 20 years now) so it will be just me and the dogs. I'll be working, of course, but it will feel very quiet around here...

Teresa

 

[Handbag Lady]

Oh, I wish I could find that poem! It was called, "My Little Girl Went to School Today" or something very close to that. It was written by a mom and they played a recording of her reading it it on one of our local radio stations. They replay now and again and it is just so sweet.

I'll keep looking but if anyone finds it, post it here!

 

[kinntj]

My youngest will be in Kindergarten 1/2 day starting Sept 8th. She'll leave at 11:40 (bus pickup) and be home right before 4, so there'll be some time in there where I'll be alone.

I'm taking a chemistry class at the community college towards a career change. I figure I'll have to prepare myself for when the kids are in school full time and I plan on going back to work.

I'll have the morning to spend with my Kindergartener before school and then take a walk after she gets picked up. Do homework/study for awhile and then do housework.

I think you'll find there aren't enough hours in the day even when your children are out of the house.

 

[happygirl]

My baby starts kindergarten in about two weeks. We need a support grouip

 

[Sleepingbooty]

What do you do?

have a fruity rum drink for breakfast, and dance around to bob seger music!

No THATS a good idea!

But seriously, I do have plenty to do around the house, and I volunteer up at the school, and do a little substitute teaching. And I'll probably do more of that. I'm not idle, just missing my little one. I really wish we had half-day kindergarten instead of full day - it would have been an easier transition from preschool which was three half days a week.

The weird thing is this totally caught me off guard! I was excited to have some time to myself to get some projects done around the house, etc. I guess its just going to take some getting used to.

 

[sunnyday123]

to you, it's hard. When Dd started Kindergarten, I was so nervous I forgot her lunch box and had to go home and get it. I came back and tried to make myself invisble in the back of the room.

Her teacher had to ask me to leave.


She'll be starting 6th grade at the end of August, and now it's starting all over again....my baby is in middle school!! Needless to say, I take the first day of school off every year.

Once the school year gets in motion, you'll get in the swing of things. Volunteer and enjoy yourself before it's embarassing for you to be within 20 feet of the school!