I was just thinking today of the things I will be able to do when the kids have gone, although I know I will miss them greatly......

I can take a bath without an audience and no one will be tossing shampoo bottles at my head.

I can open the fridge without having to move everyone out of the way befor I am able to shut the door again.

I will have a complete uninterupted thought, perhaps several.

I can read books again!

I can go to the bathroom without hearing crying the entire time and seeing little fingers reaching for me under the door.

SLEEP!!!!

I can clean a room and if I walk back in 10 minutes later it will look like I left it.

I can put my shoes on and go, I won't even have to tell anybody.

Okay I know I will miss it when the time comes but right now it sounds good.
Is there anything you will be looking forward too?

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 05:51 pm:

You're right, you WILL miss it........I'm going through empty nest syndrome myself right now, even though Jeff officially still lives here, we never see him.

For me, not having to cook every night was absolutely wonderful!

I can watch anything I want on TV without arguments, pleadings, griping........

I can play MY music as loud as I want to and no one complains......

I can go out of town and not worry about who's going to watch the kids.....

There are lots of things you can do, and believe me, I'm enjoying all of them, but I sure do miss the days when there wasn't a free moment and the house was full of noise and a complete wreck all the time........

By Payday614 on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 05:58 pm:

I look forward to reading a book with no interruptions. And baths will be heavenly. I will not miss saying,"Have you lost your mind?!" or "Stop jumping on the bed, it's not a trampoline!"

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 06:31 pm:

Not only that, you will have conversations about something besides potty training, sleep habits or homework.

By Bellajoe on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 06:40 pm:

I can't wait till I can have a phone conversation without having to say "I'm on phone right now, you can wait till i am off"

By Insaneusmcwife on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 07:01 pm:

Patti, if your married you will still be saying "I'm on the phone!" I know I do, lol!

By Texannie on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 07:07 pm:

They aren't gone, but older. I am really enjoying right now being able to say to my husband, "hey, wanna go see a movie tonite?" and not have to worry about finding a babysitter.

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 07:46 pm:

Texannie, I love being able to do that, too! DH and I love being able to go to Home Depot without the kids. They hate Home Depot.

With older kids, I'm much more able to read books! Sometimes I'm still too busy to read, but it's not always because of my kids.

With the dog no longer here, the bathroom door is staying shut and people are less inclined to join me in there.

By Mommmie on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 07:47 pm:

I can save some money!

By Fionadeassis on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 08:09 pm:

I was just talking to my mom about how I used to have a lot of stuff on my coffee table(a candle, some books, a decorative item). My coffee table has been empty(except for toys..sippees,cheerios etc.)for the last 3 years. Now, a new baby is on the was, so it will be a few years yet.....and plants on the floor....... candles anywhere you want......just being able to go out somewhere without having to find a babysitter or haul out the diaper bags..snacks...extra clothes...etc..

Getting into a car-any car and not having to worry about whether there is a car seat or not....

*sigh*-and to have a hot bath without another body wanting to be in there with you....

but I will miss eliah's big smoochy toddler kisses... him snuggling and stroking me at every available occasion...looking at his cute little bum in his spiderman undies.....listening to his adorable toddler voice.....his baby curls.... snuggling in bed with him in the morning ....

it's not so bad having an empty coffee table...much less dusting that way!!

fiona

By Texannie on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 08:28 pm:

Dawn, and being in the car by yourself..going to the grocery store alone.........ah, the trade off for puberty! LOL

By Happynerdmom on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 08:54 pm:

My kids are older, too, and I LOVE being able just to go out, to the store, wherever, without them having to come along. One thing that I always looked forward to when they were little, was the day when I would wipe no one's butt but my own. LOL That day finally arrived!!

By Coopaveryben on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 09:04 pm:

I forgot about the coffee table! Mine has been clear for 6 years now. We had to take the one in the den away because it was great fun to stand on and jump to the couch.

The phone is a good one too! They could ignore me for hours and hours but the minute I pick up the phone they come running and yelling.

By Txmomof2angels on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 10:20 pm:

Coffee table, what coffee table? The one we had before kids was glass so we got rid of it and never got a new one.

I will miss them, I don't want to rush it but it would be wonderful to sit and watch a movie from start to finish. Take a bath whenever I want. Not have to clean so much. And be able to go anywhere I want at the drop of a hat.

Thanks for the chance to dream.

By Palmbchprincess on Sunday, March 14, 2004 - 12:45 pm:

You know, coffee tables are overrated!! Mine was glass circular top, which broke, (not because of the kids) and we haven't replaced it. I barely notice it's gone! But I do vaguely remember being able to put books and magazines there before the kids. I'm dying for the day we can go out without hunting for a sitter. And not stepping on toddler toys! I fell over a tot spot chair the other day, and man did it hurt!!!

By Marg on Sunday, March 14, 2004 - 12:57 pm:

I won't miss doing so much laundry!

I think I'll really miss when they move out of the house.

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, March 14, 2004 - 06:23 pm:

I have never had a coffee table. We keep talking about buying one, but never seem to get around to it.

Fiona, I do miss toddler smoochies and the way they would stroke you sometimes! Or all snuggling in bed together. Emily still wants to sit on my lap or lean on me and she is almost 12 and weighs over 90 pounds! LOL! Last night, at my parents' house, she was sitting on the hassock for the chair I was sitting on and leaning against me. My mom said something, almost implying she shouldn't be leaning against me. I told my mom her leaning years are numbered and that is was okay.

She used to be able to sit on my legs facing me and I could lower her to the floor and lift her back up again. It is something she always loved doing. She is too big for it now! I can't lift her back up again!