Life as an empty nester...

...all is quiet at home, usually, as an empty nester. Especially quiet during the week. However, my son is home with me for the long weekend and his friend is staying overnight as well...so, it feels good to have kids in the house for the long weekend. My son only lives about 20 minutes away, but he's getting older and wants to spend more time with his friends in his free time, understandably. He's very athletically involved at school, too, which means he spends more time at football or wrestling practice as well, so I don't see him as often as I did when he was younger, it seems. He's taller than me, and has been for a while now. He seems to grow taller with each week that passes that I don't see him. It's difficult not having any of my kids living in my housefull-time any longer. My daughter, now 22, moved out two years ago this August, and she's doing very well adjusting to being responsible for herself. It was difficult for her at first, of course. I'll never forget her calling me crying one day shortly after she moved out, and said, 'I don't want to grow up and be an adult! I want to be a kid again and not have any worries!' Poor thing...yes, we all feel like that at times, don't we? That's life, though. We have to all grow up sometime and become responsible adults. It's all about the attitude! You can either whine about it, or embrace it and enjoy the adventure! (Ha!) What an adventure, too! Wow! I can hardly believe that I'm an 'empty nester'! Yes, I'm getting oldER! (Ha!) Older, but wiser, as well.

I have all this free time, now, when I get home from work. There are no kids at home for me to make something to eat, pick up after, or help do their homework. It gets so very quiet in the house now, especially since I recently had to surrender my two beautiful baby dogs to a new owner, as well. I have a nagging neighbor who's been harrassing me for four years about my dogs. I moved from living in the foothills on just under 7 acres with a creek to living in the city, you see. It wasn't that they were bad dogs...but my White German Shepherd (Yukon) was a good watch dog, in that he barked whenever anyone came around my place. A good thing for a single woman living alone, mind you...but not so good when you live in the city with neighbors. I fought her on the matter for years, but she had a warrant out for their arrest (no, I am not kidding!) and I had to appear in court, to boot! So, despite my unwillingness to allow her to 'win', I figured it was time to do what was best for my babies. Yukon was a puppy when I first got him and I had just moved to the foothills. He had run free on our acreage his whole life and then to move him to the city and stick him in my much smaller back yard was very tough on him. In retrospect, I should have just sold my house in the city, and kept the one in the country (when I divorced). At the time I didn't think I could manage the maintenance of the acreage property due to a prior auto accident injury to my left foot/ankle. It would have been tough for me, but regardless...that's in the past now. Point is, it was unfair to my dogs to be penned up in my small back yard. I work late quite often at my office and really wasn't able to spend the quality time with them they deserved. Once the kids were gone, it was much more difficult on them. Anyhow, they both went to a wonderful new home with a woman who lived in the Sierras and they went together, which was a relief to me. There's more to the long, involved story, but I won't get into all of it now. You live and you learn. My kids were not happy with me at all, but that's the tough thing about being a parent...I had to do what was best for the dogs. Unfortunately, it's been tough on me, the Momma...but you do what you have to do. Now I truly am alone in my house, it's super quiet now, and it's not something that's easy to get used to.

Needless to say, I'm spending a lot more time at my gym. I've had my gym membership for over a year, but am finally using it on a regular basis! (Ha!) I've been going every single morning, with the exception of some weekends, for the past four months and I've lost 20 pounds! (Woo-hoo!) Whenever I'm bored or lonely at home, I go to the gym...rather than sit home and watch tv. (Good thing my gym is open 24 hours! Ha!) I have so much more energy! I guess that's why I've been awake in the wee hours of the morning a lot more, too. (Ugh!) Writing, helps! =) I've found it's also been a great stress release! So, change can be very good, at times. Again, it's all about your attitude!

Back to being an empty nester...it's been quite a change for me. I'm single, but I'm sure such a change is compounded even more for couples who've been together for years and then one day the kids leave and they're left all alone...together. Hmm...could be quite interesting. Especially when your world has revolved around your kids and then you're left alone...with each other. It could be very difficult, or very exciting...depending on the relationship, I'm sure.

The positive for me in my empty nest situation is that my kids live very close, thankfully, and I can see them as often as they are available. My daughter is especially in close proximity to me (maybe one mile away) and we see each other quite often during the week. I love the fact that I'm going to the gym more, too, of course. It feels great to see my waistline diminishing and my muscles getting leaner and stronger. I feel stronger and healthier...which is good for my mental health as well. With so much energy to burn, it's too bad I'm not seeing anyone. (Ha!) Recent experience tells me I may need to seek out younger men...ha! Okay, we won't 'go there' at this time. Another whole blog, at another time. (Ha!)

Is a blog supposed to be this long? (Ha!) I'm new to this, so I don't really know. I guess I've written more of a 'book'...ha! Enough...I think I'm actually getting tired! (Yee-haw!) Nighty-night! 'Til next time...