I am writing this in all seriousness. I am writing this because it is okay to feel this way. I am sure that I am not alone. I am sure that there are other women who feel this way, but who are not willing to say it out loud, because Moms aren’t supposed to feel this way. However, I am going to let it out. This fall, for the first time ever (and I am sneaking up on 49) I will be living alone. WooHoo! Alone! At Last!
Please understand – I love my children, very much. And I will always love them. But it is my time now. I have lived with one man or another (sounds bad, but I am talking my Dad, my first husband, my second husband and my boys) ever since I was born. I have been raising children for better than 27 years. And now, finally, on August 29, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. when my daughter goes through security at the airport as she heads off for her second year of university, I will be alone!
A lot of women weep when the last one leaves home. And they miss their children. And I will miss them – I am sure of that – but not all the time. No siree. I am so looking forward to the time when I can put something away and it stays away. When the laundry is just mine. When I can eat salad for supper and be content with that. I have raised four children and two husbands. That is enough for me. I trust that I am not sounding callous as the intent of this blog is just to put it out there that it is okay to be happy when the children leave home.
Many of my readers are still married – and that is wonderful if you are in a happy, contented relationship – rejoice in that, and congratulations. For the rest of us who are single either by choice or divorce, it is time now to discover ourselves. I personally am looking forward to finding out who I am, what I like and coming and going as I please, with no explanation owed to anyone.
So, yes, this is the year that I officially will have an empty nest. And I am looking forward to it. The timing is perfect as I have a wee grandson – perhaps I will spend some time with him and his Mom. I have a journal project that I am working on – perhaps I will finish that. I have 1500 books in my house, 1475 of them have never been read – perhaps I will finish that. Whatever I do, I will be able to do it for as long as I want, when I want and all night long if I want. So, bring it on Empty Nest – bring it on!
