Womens Thoughts

I prided myself first time round when the eldest child flew the nest to university.  I had geared myself up for this new transition of our lives and in truth struggled quietly behind the scenes so as not to show my feelings, determined that I would come across as an excited mum participating in  the enjoyment of this new chapter.

The day you leave them at university and drive home with empty car is always going to be hard.  They are nervous of their new surroundings and you are busy unpacking all their clothes and sorting out their cupboards – FUSSING big time.  No matter what their age I am sure there are so many of you who will momentarily re-cap on the first day you took them to primary school and here you are again fourteen years or so later – oh! Where has the time gone?

Focusing on your own needs is so important at this time and I was impressed with myself for joining classes and for embarking on the journey of establishing Women’s Thoughts.  I met new faces along the way, boosted my confidence and self esteem in that I COULD do something out of the home and more importantly was able to chat cheerfully when talking to my child or children by the second year.

The term times seemed quite short in effect and it was not long before they were coming home for Christmas, Easter and huge Summer holidays.  After the first year I did wonder why on earth the courses were not confined to two years?

Three years passes so quickly, and where as when it was our era children who went off to university very rarely came home once the course was finished, they would have secured a job and be off, times have changed!  So many children return home once they have finished their degree course, not necessarily due to their own making.  The work place has changed dramatically and the cost of living has increased to mammoth proportions.

Many children have to come home.

So battling with your emotions when they first flew off, to now returning and your whole routine of life reverts back to how it was four years prior. 

Some mums object and why not!

You have got used to smaller loads in the machine, dishwasher neatly packed, yes they were independent for a short time but you are MUM? So we persevere, grumble and carry on.

 Life continues just as it did except you are now battling to keep your identity. 

Twelve month passes and hey ho as In my case, within two weeks of each other two of my children flew the nest again!  

Empty Nest second time round!

And so the whirlwind of emotions return, except not as bad for the second time and thankfully I had in place my life to focus on, so that a day or so after they had left things seemed to revert to normal as they had 12 months previous and our conversations were as cheery as before.

Will they return ? Who knows.