It used to be that the night before Easter meant assembling six identical Easter baskets, then hunting for six new dog proof locations to hide them before going to bed much later than I wanted to. Last night I was falling asleep early since I had to be up very early that day to take Eve (Batman's sister) to a dog show in Springfield in the morning (she didn't win, but she did well, so I was proud of her!)
Anyway, as I was starting to fight the battle of staying awake another hour or so, it occurred to me... Teenage boys sleep in. There's no need to assemble and hide the baskets tonight - I'll be up before they are in the morning, I can do it then. And that way the Peeps won't be stale!
This morning, I assembled four Easter baskets (the older two no longer live at home). One is yet unsearched for as its owner hasn't arrived home yet (college kid due in later)....
It seems the pattern of our lives is changing a bit. We're still pretty far from most people's definition of empty nesters with three kids living at home full time and an itinerant college student, but it is so much less populous than it used to be, and the kids are far more independent. One Friday this month on the way home from work we realized that no one was home... We impulsively stopped for dinner on our way. That must be what it's like to not have kids at home.
I think it's going to be ok.
2 comments:
From my experience, Kids leaving home go through several stages:
1) Still bring home laundry for mum to wash and/or fold & iron.
2) First thing on arrival is to silently stare for several minutes at the open regrigerator , amazed to see it one full of food for a change.
3) Still expect their bedroom to be treated as a shrine to the departed child, meaning that it must be cleaned regularly and able to be used at a monments notice.
4) Still forget to phone home to advise the parents they will be late when they have arranged to visit home on a particular day.
5) Still expect to have their health insurance paid for on the family Health Fund account.
6) Kids finally arrange to have all their mail redirected to where they actually live (this stage can take several decades).
7) Kids remember to repay parents for various major loans accumulated over the years (this stage can also take several decades to pass if ever).
8) Parents finally change the locks after awaiting years in the expectation that the kids to knock before entering the house.
9) Mum finally stops sending food packages to ensure that the Kids eat well.
10) The Parents finally admit that the dog, cat, bird or other pet acquired by one or more of the Kids (and left home for the Parents to look after temporarily) is the Parents sole responsibility until the pet finally dies. This includes paying for the pets food, vet bills and keep when you go on holidays.
I hear experience talking... My son was home from college briefly on Thursday - he stood staring at the refrigerator, and I just smiled thinking of your comment!
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