Empty Nest Advice?

We have good news and bad news. Good news -- our daughter's boyfriend got a terrific job offer in San Antonio. Bad news -- our daughter and grandaughter are going with him.

I know some of you guys in 40+ range have grown children. Have any of you experienced the empty nest syndrome? I've already had one crying jag this morning (don't expect you to admit to any, but I'll bet your wife would). I knew when they moved in that a move was probable, but I didn't realize how attached I would get as a step-parent. Plus, I have my husband to deal with, and he is one over-protective father!!

Do you have any tips on "pushing them out" of the nest?

Can't get rid of my son for love or money.

Keep telling him to go and live with his Mum, but he won't take the hint.

Think he's got things too cushy here.

Gary

Galee wrote:Do you have any tips on "pushing them out" of the nest?

Can't get rid of my son for love or money.

Keep telling him to go and live with his Mum, but he won't take the hint.

Think he's got things too cushy here.

Gary

Try getting a cuckoo, if that doesn't work, give him a few bills to pay.
worked like lightning with mine.

give him a few bills to pay

that should do the trick. room and board, start, if already, raise to realistic figure, part of rent/mortage, utilities, food.

hey val, haven't had the kid charge yet, Gem is 7, usually kids free up to 12 yrs, if in same bed or room, i 2 beds, which are usually too small. maybe extra charge for breakfast if eating, but haven't even seen that when buffet offered.

Must admit I'm a bit of a soft touch, so it's my own fault really.

He's recently been promoted to "Head of Humanities Department" at his school,(he's been teaching for 18 months!!!!!) and will be getting massive pay increments over the next 3 years, so I've warned him that he can expect his rent to increase accordingly. He is now viewing the property pages in the local paper, so maybe there's light at the end of the tunnell.

That didn't stop him asking to use my credit card to buy a new TV this though.

Empty nest syndrome? Well, it seems that when each of our three kids left home they were replaced by a pet so, eventually, we had three cats and a sweet-tempered pit bull as our adopted petkids. Actually, it was more a case of US abandoning the nest since wife and I moved (job transfer) to South Florida from Michigan some six years ago after the last of our kids moved out. Like Thai_1_On says, we're now in training for Thailand. Weather is about the same in Florida with a hot season and a rainy season but we could do without the hurricane season. Crazy, idiot drivers here, too. Anyway, we don't see much of the kids these days (once or twice a year) so, in a sense, we are preparing for the family separation when we move to Thailand permanently.

My past sins must be coming back to haunt me. I left several pets with my parents as I moved in and out over the years, and now it looks as if Buster, the sweetest pit bull terrier in the world, will be a permanent resident as his owner moves on.

gulfcoastUSA -- When my daughter left home for college a few years back, it was tough for me and my (ex)wife, but we slowly came to admit that we were feeling more sorry for ourselves than for her. She was excited to be getting out there and beginning her own life. We, as parents, won't be around forever, so give yourself a pat on the back that you've prepared your daughter and son-in-law well for life on their own. After all, isn't that our primary job as parents?

Sorry, I guess I should have said, "son-in-law-to be." Anyway, hang in there and good luck.

Stu, thanks for the words of encouragement. Yes, we're definitely feeling sorry for ourselves. A large part of that is the anxiety over my husband having been the grandaughter's "father figure." His daughter is quite eager to move on and move out, which is only right and normal. I think all women just want to "own" their household and create their own space, which is tough when one's name isn't on the mailbox.