It has been 3 months since we dropped our youngest off at college and entered the phase of the “Empty Nest.” While I’m currently counting down to having both Elizabeth and Nick home for Thanksgiving (only 9 days!), I can’t help but reflect on how well things are going.
To this point, most of my posts have been about processing rites of passage and the emotions of goodbyes and see-you-soons. I would be remiss, however, if I didn’t share how happy things are here in our yellow house.
It is difficult to find a word that describes the measure of thankfulness I have for the strong bonds that Rob and I share. We work hard at loving one another well, and that is really paying off now. (A word to the wise – invest in your marriage – your “us-ness” – while your children are still home. Yeah, I know it is difficult. Do it anyway!)
Since we have kept close all along, we didn’t have to get reacquainted like I’ve heard that some couples do. Right away (okay…after a few days of feeling mopey) we were able to set about figuring out what to do with all of this time we have together – just us two.
A few of my favorites so far – long walks in our neighborhood, bike rides along the Neuse River, trying new recipes and restaurants, going to the movies – on a weeknight (what?!). Yeah, I know. It’s gotten pretty wild around here.
The most surprising thing for me has been the realization that we are back to the way things were, logistically speaking at least, before we became parents. Just as our children, in moving away from home, were tasked with the freedom and responsibility of setting their schedules and eating whatever and whenever they want and not having to check with us first about – well, pretty much anything, we are getting used to those freedoms again, too.
It feels good. And right. It is one more way I can relate to what Mom always said, “When you’re a parent, you’ll understand.”
Kim Perry Writes 
This is funny because my parents are going through this same thing. I am a second year college student and my mom is always talking about how it is weird not having me in the house and how it is going to feel so empty there when my sister graduates this year. My parents are making time for themselves more often and my mom and dad have literally used that same line ” its like we are back to the way things were before we were parents”.