Empty nest… don’t think I’m ready!

Our only son goes back for his junior year in a week and each year tough on his mom but freshmen year was the hardest. College has truly changed him, was always a great kid but this has really brought him much more “out of his shell”. His main wish is no masks and bar/frat parties be open again like his freshmen year. He manages great grades and has a fun time doing it, best of both worlds.

good luck, certainly an adjustment for sure but I expect you will be fine.
 
I'm the youngest of 6. When I left for boot camp I was excited, scared and I never looked back. Years later my sisters told me my Mom cried for days. Unfortunately the 18 year old me never considered what it was like for my parents.
My dad was always a hard ass. He was a good dad, but man, what a hard ass...his way or the highway. LOL Mom said he didn't change much after I left for basic training, but a few years later when I was in Desert Shied and Desert Storm, she said he changed. I could tell it too when I got back.
 
dropped my youngest off in 2015 & between college, the military, buying a house & marriage she really never came back except some very brief visits; raised her & her older brother myself from high school onward so when they departed it was literally an empty nest, been living solo for all these years. Freaky at first, very used to it now. For those that spoke of the issues awaiting you & your spouse there's a similar issue facing those that are completely alone, what would it be like... for me I had never lived alone, went from my parents house to college with roommates to living with my girlfriend to married with kids... it was an adjustment but it has treated me very well.

Drove the 250 miles out to Pittsburgh this weekend to visit my youngest this weekend, pretty awesome to see her in her (now) natural habitat, the house she bought last fall has been completely finished with all their stuff, new puppy, new job, things are moving along nicely for them, it all makes me very happy - you'll find that too.
 
dropped my youngest off in 2015 & between college, the military, buying a house & marriage she really never came back except some very brief visits; raised her & her older brother myself from high school onward so when they departed it was literally an empty nest, been living solo for all these years. Freaky at first, very used to it now. For those that spoke of the issues awaiting you & your spouse there's a similar issue facing those that are completely alone, what would it be like... for me I had never lived alone, went from my parents house to college with roommates to living with my girlfriend to married with kids... it was an adjustment but it has treated me very well.

Drove the 250 miles out to Pittsburgh this weekend to visit my youngest this weekend, pretty awesome to see her in her (now) natural habitat, the house she bought last fall has been completely finished with all their stuff, new puppy, new job, things are moving along nicely for them, it all makes me very happy - you'll find that too.
That’s awesome!
 
My dad was always a hard ass. He was a good dad, but man, what a hard ass...his way or the highway. LOL Mom said he didn't change much after I left for basic training, but a few years later when I was in Desert Shied and Desert Storm, she said he changed. I could tell it too when I got back.
That’s i think the difference in being a father to boys and a buddy… I felt with both my boys I was a hard ass most times… but I wasn’t gunna be a “buddy” to my kids cause that doesn’t seem to be … again my opinion.. a way to raise especially boys!.. my oldest told me a year ago he appreciated all the things I kept his ass to the grindstone about and it now all makes a lot more sense to him, so maybe I did good!!!
 
That’s i think the difference in being a father to boys and a buddy… I felt with both my boys I was a hard ass most times… but I wasn’t gunna be a “buddy” to my kids cause that doesn’t seem to be … again my opinion.. a way to raise especially boys!.. my oldest told me a year ago he appreciated all the things I kept his ass to the grindstone about and it now all makes a lot more sense to him, so maybe I did good!!!
It did with me too once I grew up a little bit, got some life experience and especially after becoming a father myself.
 
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To all the people that are sad and complain about empty nesting being lonely?
They're wrong, it's the best thing ever! More money! More sex! More everything, it's the bomb!
 
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