Empty Nest
06-22-12, 11:35 AM
#51
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John (our son and youngest) left last night for Quebec City to start his missionary career.
...
I am so proud of him for finding his way on his own and working hard to achieve his goals. He is 100% financing the career as far as college and all the things he had to do to get accepted by the Missions Board. he has funding for everything.
...
Sorry this was long, I knew this day was coming for a long time, this thread was so timely and y'all are my surrogate family.
Bill
...
I am so proud of him for finding his way on his own and working hard to achieve his goals. He is 100% financing the career as far as college and all the things he had to do to get accepted by the Missions Board. he has funding for everything.
...
Sorry this was long, I knew this day was coming for a long time, this thread was so timely and y'all are my surrogate family.
Bill
Sounds like John has his head (and heart) on straight - Kudos to him, you, Monica and God for getting him to this point. Congratulations.
06-22-12, 11:45 AM
#52
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Your son will maybe return in two years totally changed, he'll speak a different language, Quebec Franlais, root for Les Habs and bleed bleu, blanc et rouge when they lose, eat strange uneard of food called poutine,croissants, pea soup and beavertails and with a cute French maid (no, not that french maid) in tow. Enjoy the change.
06-22-12, 05:29 PM
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When our son went on to college (UCLA). To soften the change and the feel of an empty nest: both my wife and I went to kauai for a week relaxing on a beautiful beach (Poipu)
Ultimately he came back got married, got a good job (electrical engineer) and live less than 10 miles from us, but we rarely see him and his wife--I guess he too has a life of his own!
Children: they ultimately grow up and leave you!
Ultimately he came back got married, got a good job (electrical engineer) and live less than 10 miles from us, but we rarely see him and his wife--I guess he too has a life of his own!
Children: they ultimately grow up and leave you!
Last edited by VNA; 06-22-12 at 09:22 PM.
06-23-12, 08:29 AM
#54
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Didn't see any need to start a new thread on this topic. John (our son and youngest) left last night for Quebec City to start his missionary career. This is a preliminary trip but, and he will come back after 3 months for maybe a week or so to get his dog and the few things he left here, he is up there for around two years, minimum. Got his apartment a month or so back, took care of the Canadian banking issues and lined up the required health insurance for missionaries (International Mission's Board requirement, good idea to me, he isn't eligible for the Canadian health system as he is an American citizen.)
Monica did the short mom's cry and mullygrubbed for about 5 minutes, then she was fine. We will miss him as his sister has been gone since she left for Massachusetts and Smith College in 2004, now working in Atlanta, Ga, and the nest is officially empty. We have raced MX together since he was 12 and ridden bikes since he graduated form college last December.
I am so proud of him for finding his way on his own and working hard to achieve his goals. He is 100% financing the career as far as college and all the things he had to do to get accepted by the Missions Board. he has funding for everything. He had taught himself French to where he will start the language immersion courses in an advanced placement. (His sister majored in french at Smith and wil not even speak the language, burn out, bad!) We gave both he and his sister a separate credit card if they have an emergency several years ago. Both have been totally responsible and paid the card off each month when it was needed.
Sorry this was long, I knew this day was coming for a long time, this thread was so timely and y'all are my surrogate family. Thanks for listening. A new page in our lives begins today. It is time to go riding and get ready for the metric century I signed up for last week.
Bill
Monica did the short mom's cry and mullygrubbed for about 5 minutes, then she was fine. We will miss him as his sister has been gone since she left for Massachusetts and Smith College in 2004, now working in Atlanta, Ga, and the nest is officially empty. We have raced MX together since he was 12 and ridden bikes since he graduated form college last December.
I am so proud of him for finding his way on his own and working hard to achieve his goals. He is 100% financing the career as far as college and all the things he had to do to get accepted by the Missions Board. he has funding for everything. He had taught himself French to where he will start the language immersion courses in an advanced placement. (His sister majored in french at Smith and wil not even speak the language, burn out, bad!) We gave both he and his sister a separate credit card if they have an emergency several years ago. Both have been totally responsible and paid the card off each month when it was needed.
Sorry this was long, I knew this day was coming for a long time, this thread was so timely and y'all are my surrogate family. Thanks for listening. A new page in our lives begins today. It is time to go riding and get ready for the metric century I signed up for last week.
Bill
06-23-12, 07:02 PM
#55
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When our son went on to college (UCLA). To soften the change and the feel of an empty nest: both my wife and I went to kauai for a week relaxing on a beautiful beach (Poipu)
Ultimately he came back got married, got a good job (electrical engineer) and live less than 10 miles from us, but we rarely see him and his wife--I guess he too has a life of his own!
Children: they ultimately grow up and leave you!
Ultimately he came back got married, got a good job (electrical engineer) and live less than 10 miles from us, but we rarely see him and his wife--I guess he too has a life of his own!
Children: they ultimately grow up and leave you!
I've got a twist on the empty nest experience.
When I was 50, my kids were finishing high school and college, I saw the writing on the wall in that my job as a parent was being down-sized after 24 years. I got a little panicked as I had been pretty much a stay-at-home mom working only part-time jobs so that I could be home for them. I knew I had to make a pre-emptive strike against an onset of feelings of displacement and depression and make some changes in my life to mentally prepare for the empty nest.
I decided to go back to school and earn a degree to prepare me with skills to re-enter the workforce full-time. Because I was going back to school at 51, I opted to go for an Associate's degree as it could be completed in two years.(tick-tick-tick). It took me four years to graduate as I attended school part-time while I worked a part-time job. Well, I graduated last June, and have been working two p/t jobs since.
Last week, I was offered, and accepted, a full-time position at a prestigious hospital in Philadelphia. I start July 9th. So, while many of our 60+ members are retiring, I am beginning a new career.
Good thing the kids are gone, I’ve got to get to work!
06-23-12, 07:13 PM
#56
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Last week, I was offered, and accepted, a full-time position at a prestigious hospital in Philadelphia. I start July 9th. So, while many of our 60+ members are retiring, I am beginning a new career.
06-23-12, 07:18 PM
#57
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Good for you Miss K', glad that you have the full-time job that you want.
Bill
Bill
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Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
06-23-12, 08:12 PM
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The whole point is to teach the kids to spread their wings and fly, to grow up. With this being the last summer with our 20-yr-old here, and a month of it in India, I am the one having trouble growing up.
06-24-12, 02:22 PM
#59
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Empty Nest
Shortly after I posted to this thread on page one my son came home and told us he had found an apartment near campus that he wanted us to look at. I was hoping that it was a run down piece of crap that I could not approve of. In fact it's a real nice place that is about two blocks from campus in a safe area that he can bike to school in nice weather. When the weather turns bad the school shuttle stops right there as does the local bus route. So instead of having till August with him home we just finished moving him this weekend. Right now this is a pretty empty feeling and sad place, I knew the wife would have a hard time with this but I did not expect it to hit me as hard as it has. It's kinda weird to think that this is no longer his home. We are both so proud of what he has accomplished to this point and excited for the new chapter in his life he is entering. He now starts Grad School at the Northern Kentucky University School of Law and from this point on he will need less and less from us. He's a well adjusted, smart, responsible, confident young man and I have no reason to doubt that he will reach his goals. Still there is a part of me that wishes we could turn the clock back a few more years. I know we will adjust and he's only 30 minutes away but it just had to believe. Sorry to drag this out so long but it just got away from me.
06-24-12, 05:17 PM
#60
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xjken,
Just take solace, as the above members just told me, in what he has accomplished and will accomplish and the fact y'all raised a fine son. Know what you and the wife are going through but it gets better and he will be back for a Mom's cooking meal sooner than you think.
Bill
Just take solace, as the above members just told me, in what he has accomplished and will accomplish and the fact y'all raised a fine son. Know what you and the wife are going through but it gets better and he will be back for a Mom's cooking meal sooner than you think.
Bill
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Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
06-24-12, 05:35 PM
#61
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When we got our four kids (two boys, two girls) grown up and moved out we had so much fun we ended up with another kid.
She is now 8 years old and the joy of our lives but it is a bit strange when she plays Aunti with the two grandkids that are about her age.
And what proud dad could resist posting a pic....
She is now 8 years old and the joy of our lives but it is a bit strange when she plays Aunti with the two grandkids that are about her age.
And what proud dad could resist posting a pic....
06-24-12, 06:25 PM
#62
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"a Mom's cooking meal"
Actually Bill with me being semi retired most of the home cooking is done by me. I was just telling my wife that one of those little things I will miss most was his "What's for dinner?" question he would usually ask when I got home from work. It's nice to hear from someone who is going through this that it does get better. Best wishes to you and Monica.
Actually Bill with me being semi retired most of the home cooking is done by me. I was just telling my wife that one of those little things I will miss most was his "What's for dinner?" question he would usually ask when I got home from work. It's nice to hear from someone who is going through this that it does get better. Best wishes to you and Monica.
06-24-12, 06:29 PM
#63
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Ken,
Nothing wrong with dad cooking, I love to cook for us. Monica has a home based financial business and stays really busy so I cook when she needs and like to surprise her with neat meals. Best of luck to y'all too.
Bill
Nothing wrong with dad cooking, I love to cook for us. Monica has a home based financial business and stays really busy so I cook when she needs and like to surprise her with neat meals. Best of luck to y'all too.
Bill
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Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
06-24-12, 08:13 PM
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Thanks for starting this thread - it does help.
06-24-12, 08:32 PM
#66
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Hell, somewhere along the line, they turned into my good friends too.
Well put fallsjohn. That's exactly how I feel, we have been riding together for the past two months or so because of his knee problems. I suggested riding instead of running and he has really taken to it. I also suggested that him and his girlfriend could start riding together instead of running but, his response was that he would rather that be our thing.
Well put fallsjohn. That's exactly how I feel, we have been riding together for the past two months or so because of his knee problems. I suggested riding instead of running and he has really taken to it. I also suggested that him and his girlfriend could start riding together instead of running but, his response was that he would rather that be our thing.
06-25-12, 06:03 AM
#67
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Agreed, John became a really good friend and I loved having him around with me when I did things or we went places. Many good memories of days at the motocross track and going to the Supercross in Atlanta every year. When we began riding bikes last year after he got home form University it was very satisfying. You guys hit this one right on the head. Raising two young adults that are good people is one thing we have one shot per child at doing right.
Bill
Bill
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Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
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