[FaithS]

Moved DS18 into college dorm this afternoon. Thankfully, he is only 2 1/2 m from home, so we expect to be able to see him regularly.

DD19 is in MB, Canada (900 m from home), and will begin college there Sept. 8. Was much more difficult, of course, to say good-bye to her.

Both kids are freshmen this year. DD graduated in '08, but spent a year volunteering in Gulf Coast (New Orleans and TX) rebuilding homes damaged by hurricanes.

~ Faith

[Lady]

Congratulations to you Mom, for having your two kids in college. That is great.

Time for their Independence, even though your daughter started last year. I know it is hard not having the kids around, like when they were in high school, but you will get used to it. Plenty of phone calls and wash brought home.

Your DS is close by, but needs to be on his own. Girls seem to mature faster than the guys do, IMO.

Are you alone completely or is there someone else at home?

[braingonebad]

Faith - Wow, that's quite a distance. I don't know about where you are, but we've been finding some cheap flights. Keep on the look out and maybe she can visit more than you think. I went from toledo, Oh, to Orlando, Fl for $69 - that's about 1100 miles. A lot cheaper than I would have thought.


I agree Lady, girls seem to mature sooner.

[FaithS]

Originally Posted by braingonebad

Faith - Wow, that's quite a distance. I don't know about where you are, but we've been finding some cheap flights. Keep on the look out and maybe she can visit more than you think. I went from toledo, Oh, to Orlando, Fl for $69 - that's about 1100 miles. A lot cheaper than I would have thought.


I agree Lady, girls seem to mature sooner.

Christmas is the only time that they have more than a 3-day weekend off. Flights (from Winnipeg to Wichita) are over $700 round trip. Flying from Canada to the U.S. is expensive.

If she flies from Grand Forks instead, and someone drives 2 hours to take her to the airport, its still over $400. Neither beginning are destination or major airports, so cheap options aren't out there.

Nope. Christmas is it. (They have no spring break; last day of school is April 25.)

~ Faith

[tkrik]

Hi Faith! I am a new empty-nester too. Moved DD18 in to her dorm a little more than a week ago and DD19 moved out a few months ago.

DD18's dorm is about 6 miles from my house but I set a limit on her coming home as I thought she'd want to come home all the time and by doing so I would be enabling her to remain dependent. Not healthy for her. However, after tears the 1st night, she is off and running and loves living in the dorm. Yeah! I was worried that this wouldn't be the case and she would be wanting to come home all the time. A few days ago I dropped off some things that she forgot at home and I could tell she couldn't wait for me to leave as she wanted to go hang out with her friends in the dorm. How awesome was that!

DD19 moved out a few months ago. She moved in to a situation that I am not too thrilled about (her bf and his parents). She is the one that has to learn/grow up the hard way. She is enrolled in school full-time now and I am so glad about that. Despite me telling her the importance of college, She finally realized that post-high school education really is so important.

While having an empty nest presents some challenges for me, living alone with MS and that goes along with that, I can't be happier for my girls right now. Yes, I am a cheerleader mom not a hoverer.

What do you plan to do with your time?

[FaithS]

Originally Posted by Lady

Congratulations to you Mom, for having your two kids in college. That is great.

Time for their Independence, even though your daughter started last year. I know it is hard not having the kids around, like when they were in high school, but you will get used to it. Plenty of phone calls and wash brought home.

Your DS is close by, but needs to be on his own. Girls seem to mature faster than the guys do, IMO.

Are you alone completely or is there someone else at home?

Lady --

No; not alone. My DH still here.

Yeah; will miss my kids. Have encouraged DS to bring laundry home, so that we will see him. I don't expect him to be the dependent type. He is fairly introverted, though, so I hope that he connects with people and seems to make friends. Seemed, that first day, like he was comfortable and was fitting in.

~ Faith

[FaithS]

Originally Posted by tkrik

Hi Faith! I am a new empty-nester too. Moved DD18 in to her dorm a little more than a week ago and DD19 moved out a few months ago.

DD18's dorm is about 6 miles from my house but I set a limit on her coming home as I thought she'd want to come home all the time and by doing so I would be enabling her to remain dependent. Not healthy for her. However, after tears the 1st night, she is off and running and loves living in the dorm. Yeah! I was worried that this wouldn't be the case and she would be wanting to come home all the time. A few days ago I dropped off some things that she forgot at home and I could tell she couldn't wait for me to leave as she wanted to go hang out with her friends in the dorm. How awesome was that!

DD19 moved out a few months ago. She moved in to a situation that I am not too thrilled about (her bf and his parents). She is the one that has to learn/grow up the hard way. She is enrolled in school full-time now and I am so glad about that. Despite me telling her the importance of college, She finally realized that post-high school education really is so important.

While having an empty nest presents some challenges for me, living alone with MS and that goes along with that, I can't be happier for my girls right now. Yes, I am a cheerleader mom not a hoverer.

What do you plan to do with your time?

Wow! Your kids are the same ages as mine. Actually, I might be more of a hoverer. Try not to be, but . . .

Hope things work out for your older daughter. My DD19 has chosen college 900 miles away from home to be closer to her BF. He was also a volunteer in New Orleans last year. Much of their relationship has been long-distance (phoning and skyping), because he left there a month after she arrived. She'll be living in the dorms, about 30 miles from where he is.

~ Faith

[tkrik]

Originally Posted by FaithS

Wow! Your kids are the same ages as mine. Actually, I might be more of a hoverer. Try not to be, but . . .

Hope things work out for your older daughter. My DD19 has chosen college 900 miles away from home to be closer to her BF. He was also a volunteer in New Orleans last year. Much of their relationship has been long-distance (phoning and skyping), because he left there a month after she arrived. She'll be living in the dorms, about 30 miles from where he is.

~ Faith

What helps me is knowing that they are on their way to living their own lives and being who they are meant to be. It is now their turn to shine in this world and take all that I taught them and all that they have learned and just go for it. I remember being their age and always keep that in mind. It really helps.

As for your DD being so far away, that is going to be more difficult for you. But again, she is on her way to being who she is meant to be.

[SallyC]

((((((((((Faith))))))))))

They come back!!!!!!!!

[FaithS]

Originally Posted by SallyC

((((((((((Faith))))))))))

They come back!!!!!!!!

Lol!

~ Faith

(DS might.

But for DD, I suspect that she is ready to finish college -- maybe -- grow up, get married and move on with her adult life. But,. there'll be visits, and grandchildren, right? I just don't expect that she'll live close by, since he is from so far away. I can't begrudge her that, because I live 1200 miles from my family. But, that's why that is hard to think about. Because I've already done that for 25 years, and didn't really want to start it over for the next generation.)