First Day of School, Last Year of School

[TXBryan]

Rather a bittersweet moment this morning seeing our son off to his first day of his senior year of high school. Already imaging how strange it will be a year from now facing an empty nest.

We are going to try and enjoy this year as much as we hope he does. The shoes are for cross-country practice later today. He's too cool to smile.

Yesterday was the last day of band camp at school. Tai is the clarinet in black. He's the only senior that has been in band and athletics for all four years.

We are "older" parents. Our combined age was 99 when we adopted our son. Other than getting married it was the best decision we have ever made. Wish I had a dime for every time we heard "he'll keep you young." Not so; he's kept us moving and that's not the same thing, not at all a bad thing, but not the same thing. The occasional day can be long but the years are short.

Bryan

 

[WardenRoss]

Fine looking boy! Congrats on being a senior.

Life is good!

,

 

[IAM Rand]

Enjoy the empty nest while it lasts because it won't last. Both of our boys boomeranged back to the house. Still have 1 in the basement and 2 granddogs. My wife and I are pining for an empty nest.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Our 4 kids moved fast and quick. (two to the military & two to college). Pne came home for a year after the Marines, the moved in with MMA fighters and took 10 more years to find his bride. 9 grandkids total. The wife gets a first school day call over morning coffee every year. And often calls from the sons that evening.

Our oldest granddaughter is a Senior this year. That means everyone in the family is getting old! Her brother starts driving this fall!

Life flies by! Enjoy these fleeting moments while you can.

Ivan

I'm the youngest my parents were combined age of 80 when I started my Senior year. We were a combined 80 when our oldest started. My Marine son will be a combined age of 104 when his oldest starts her Senior year.

 

[Rudi]

Exciting times!

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I was sitting at a fund raiser with 3 other couples in 2003. Our youngest had just started his freshman year of college and live with his grandmother.

One of the other Couples also had 4 kids and their oldest had just started college. They were all heart sick and moped around like someone shot their dog!

I encouraged them by saying when their youngest moves out they will throw a party! It is a matter of experience. (when my oldest went in the Army, I missed him so much I cried too) Then I told them by the time their youngest graduates college, they'll most likely be grandparents! That put them in shock!

Since yours is both Oldest and Youngest you will feel many things at the same time! The Good Book says the "Children are a reward", enjoy knowing you did a good job.

Ivan

 

[SMSgt]

Life begins anew when the last child moves out.

 

[robvious]

wife got a Facebook reminder today... 12 years ago our son started high school... he is now an Aerospace Engineer in another state... enjoy the time.. it goes by quickly...

 

[john17427]

Our kids bounced in and out several times till they were 32 and 28 respectively, but then......... They both left the state within 30 days never to return. It's hard when you've had them around so long and then they go far away for good.

 

[sigp220.45]

Congratulations on raising a fine boy.

We were empty nesters for about five years. I hated it.

Oldest son is back with us now while he and his wife do some school. They brought us this little bonus. The house is quiet no more.

 

[kozmic]

Be proud, dad. These are some of the best of times! Your post brought back some great memories.

There is an upside to being empty nesters. It's great when your kids come home to visit. You know except for the empty frig and piles of laundry.

 

[Maddog 521]

When our twins graduated from high school and moved out we bought luggage. We used it for several years and enjoyed our time together. A lot has changed since then and we are still enjoying the madness with all the additions to the family.

 

[tops]

Advice for the parents looking forward to an empty nest. One of my mentors said that when his kids left home he broke their plate and took down their bed so they didn't have anything to come back to. Larry

 

[glenwolde]

Advice for the parents looking forward to an empty nest. One of my mentors said that when his kids left home he broke their plate and took down their bed so they didn't have anything to come back to. Larry

We've gone back and forth on this a couple of times. They graduated from High School. We're done! Oh wait...college. They graduated from college. We're done! Oh wait...

We helped them navigate careers, and buying houses. More schooling. Getting married. Having their own children. Now that all that is done and they really don't need "parenting" anymore, we still don't seem to be able to get rid of them. They keep calling and inviting us over or showing up at our place. My daughter calls my wife every day. We see them weekly.

But then we realized how lucky we are. Many friends are estranged from their children. Sometimes it's drama, sometimes it's geographical.

It's been a lot of work, and it should never end. Once you take responsibility for a tiny human you're stuck for life. If you're lucky.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Bittersweet indeed! Did it three times for each of my children. BUT....you ain't seen nutin yet! Wait until you pack him up for college next fall! When you leave them at the dorm and make the mistake of looking through the rear view mirror and see him waiving at you...then the tears will flow. But the time will go quickly then. By the time Labor Day comes around you have cleaned out and repurposed his bedroom and changed the locks
Raising children is a continuous range of emotions that really enrich our lives!
Sit back and enjoy the ride!!!

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

My two in the military were both stationed in Va., and N.C. So we saw them at most holidays and another 4 or 5 times a year.

One year the oldest brought home 7 duffel bags of dirty laundry. Old uniforms, New uniforms, Rapid Deployment uniforms (times 2). I think most of the used stuff was Christmas gifts for friends and cousins! But Mom had about 20 loads o laundry! The on in the Marines, did his own laundry and IRONING! So I never knew how much he brought home!

Ivan

 

[pmanton]

Enjoy it!
Before you know it you'll be old and feeble. It will be grandkids starting or graduating.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Well think of all the things you could be doing with the Tution money the next .................... 4,5 maybe even 6 years!!!

 

[SMSgt]

Both my kids--two years apart--graduated college the same year. It was like a second honeymoon when they moved out.

 

[Papa32129]

Congratulations!
I have a Junior in HS and 8th grader.
I feel your pain. I'm 54
I can't imagine starting over right now.
Maybe just the napping when the baby naps.
That's always my speed. The rough part is when someone wakes up cranky.

Papa
Aka cranky pants