Empty Nest Is Now Happening :o(

[Cholo]

I had a really good run to make it as long as I have with one, or more, of my kids living with me. My middle daughter is now packing up her room full of stuff with my SIL. He's a really good guy, and she's done well. He's a Sargent in the Army and will be stationed 3 hours away. An era has passed; I've enjoyed it far longer than most have, but it's time to move on. I don't have to like it... there's always a room for her if needed.

So, it will soon be down to just myself and my Lab, Chula. She turned 12 on Aug. 1. It's all bitter sweet. I havn't lived alone since '73. Where did the time go?

On the bright side, I'll have my 5th granddaughter in December! It's all like it is meant to be. Somehow, I hoped would never end, but life marches on...

 

[Jim Puke]

Bittersweet...I am sure it is.

On the bright side...you have done well as they can make it on their own.

 

[gramps]

Hang in there Cholo. Call me if you need to hear a voice. . Us empty nester's got to stick together.
gramps

 

[WendyZXZ]

Sounds like it has been a good life well spent and with another grandchild coming just more to look forward to!

 

[toysoldier]

This makes my screen blurry:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h3APHGwTWs

 

[contender]

Ken,,, it's just another stage in life. While it'll seem "empty" for a while,,, you will find ways to fill in the space with other things,,, or such.
And, as always,,, your friends here are just a few keystrokes, or putt-putt miles away!

 

[Bob Wright]

We, Nita and I, have been empty nesters for a long time now. We have each other, and my church always has young folks that need a "second grandpa." So its really a blast out here!

Bob Wright

 

[Cooperhawk]

Empty nest for fifteen years now, but two grandchildren are currently sleeping in the guest rooms. Life moves on.

 

[SteveRuger]

Love Those Grand Kids! Up to 15 of them & loving being Grandpa!

 

[RolandDeschain]

Yup - been there, done that.

This is mine.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PkifWfgzAQ

feel for you Cholo.

 

[RugerHound]

Ken, you're doing alright... After last week's post about your weekend tour, it's pretty obvious that you're a rich man! It's the cycle of life my friend!

God bless...

 

[Cooperhawk]

Just took the Grandkids back to their Mom. House is quiet again.
Enjoy the quiet time while you can my friend. When the little ones
start to visit you will treasure it, but treasure the quiet in between as
well. :shock:

Man do they have energy. I don't remember being that active. :roll:

 

[vito]

Life is a series of different stages, if one is lucky enough to live long enough to go through each stage. The fact that all life here on earth is finite is the reality that we live with, and lamenting the passage of time is not helpful or comforting (sometimes I have trouble following my own advice). I married young and we started a family pretty quickly. Having four children in 7 years meant that for a long time my life revolved around a house full of kids, my job, and my wonderful wife. As the kids grew up and moved on the house became quieter and quieter. It was so quiet, and our lives suddenly seemed so purposeless at one point that we became foster parents. We ended up adopting our only foster child, so that added a lot of years with a child in the house. Now we have 10 grandchildren and they are truly a joy for me. But I have found that when they are very young they really enjoy when Grandpa comes to visit, and spending time with the little ones makes me feel young again. But now most of my grandkids are teenagers, totally wrapped up in their own emerging adulthood which is way it should be, and often have little time or interest in spending time with Grandpa. I'm hoping that if I live long enough I will see them become the fine adults that I hope they will be, and then again they might truly value some time with their old grandfather. And with one grandchild now 20, the stage of seeing greatgrandchildren join the extended family is a real possibility.

When I was a young man and my own father was dying, he told me that he finally realized that material possessions meant nothing, and that the only thing that truly mattered was his family that he loved. I try to remind myself that as much as I enjoy my "toys" like my motorcycle, my guns, my camping RV, it is my wife, my children and my grandchildren that really matter. So I try to enjoy this current stage of life and I look forward to enjoying the next stage, however it turns out for me.

I will add that I have been very blessed, not only with my children and grandchildren, but with my wife of 49 years, and counting. Things haven't always been perfect for us, and will never be perfect, but having had her as my companion and best friend for all these years is truly a blessing that I know few have enjoyed. Why God has chosen me to be so blessed always amazes me, so that despite the challenges that he has also put in my path I know that I have been one lucky guy.

 

[FastEd]

Cholo, you are absolutely right about Time. It does fly.
Stay positive and enjoy one day at a time.
It happens to all of us.

 

[opos]

We have kids..grandkids..and great grandkids..we all live close enough to be available to each other and far enough away not to ever be intrusive...we raised them to find their way on their own and we are very proud and happy...all do very well as do we...My wife was raised with her Mom, 2 brothers and her Grandmother in a small house...she loves the family but is so glad we have the home to ourselves unless we all plan for a time together. Wonderful to have a close family but for us it's great to be "on our own".

 

[Marylou Mader]

Sounds like a lot of love will hold it all together...

 

[Cholo]

I know I'm not alone. Some take it with sadness and others with joy. I'm def. not in the joy category. Yesterday, we got the 23' Penske loaded up with her things in storage 1st, then most of her bedroom. My oldest daughter and SIL helped. Tomorrow we'll finish the job.

My boy's room will become my reloading room and I'll build a much larger bench than the very small one I've used since '76 or '77. I'm adding a Redding Turret press that should make reloading more enjoyable than my old single stage. The bunk bed in my boy's room can be made into 2 separate beds and will go in my daughter's room. I'll finally have a spare room for guests. Since I live in a small house, I'll enjoy the extra room.

RolandDeschain, I started to watch your video, but just couldn't at this time. I'm seeing my entire adult life with my kids flashing before my eyes. They've been the best of years, and they all turned out well. I have 2 great SIL's and a solid DIL. I have so much to be thankful for, and I am! The silence will now be deafening, but I'll get used to it.

Yup, just another chapter we all go thru. Some things we take for granted; I've never taken time for granted. I always knew that they'd grow up and start their own families. As one door closes, another opens, and usually it's a good change. It's always been that way in my life. It's just hard to see it when the door 1st closes...

I've been a very blessed man and I surely don't know what I did to deserve it. We'll all live under 6 hours away, and for that I'm thankful. Today we got most all of the small stuff out of my daughter's room. She just now told me that her husband will leave tonight, she will leave in the AM. One more night and it will be silent.

I just now went outside with Blake. I told him what my now deceased FIL told me back in '75 when I was about to marry his only daughter, my X wife: "If you ever decide you don't want her anymore, just send her back home because, we (I) do." Pete Thompson, WWll POW and and highly decorated veteran. I also told him to never abuse her. He shook my hand like a man and said: "That will never happen." I believe him...

Thanks to all who responded. I've been given another 12 hours...