2011-02-28

My Quiet House

http://www.collegehumor.com/article:1812020

My house is quiet again - calm, peaceful and oh-so-very quiet.  Reading Week is over, my two fledglings have flown the coop, and once again my husband & I are empty nesters. 

Since our youngest went off to university last September, we've slowly adjusted to having the house to ourselves.  It certainly has it's benefits -   our walls no longer vibrate to the beat of rap music, my grocery bill is considerably less, my husband & I have our freedom back, and after decades of trying to set a good example I can finally say, out loud and with passion, "F**k it!"

It was not an easy adjustment though.  In the weeks leading up to his departure, I was plagued by dreams - not dreams of my strapping eighteen-year-old who now towers over me, but dreams of an infant son, my baby boy.  I had dreams where I misplaced my baby and couldn't find him anywhere; I had dreams where I was forced to give my baby away; and once, I dreamt my baby boy was born with two front teeth and was walking and talking by the end of his first day.  In my dream I asked him, "Can't you just stay a baby?"  And he replied, "But I'm ready."

And he was ready.  He was my shy, quiet, slightly-bewildered boy who had never spent any real time apart from us, but he was ready.  As I hugged him good-bye on the steps of the university that was to be his home for the next 4 years, I was filled with a mixture of worry and hope and pride and grief that's unique to mothers who have to say good-bye to their children, trusting that everything you've taught them will be enough to carry them on ahead without you.

So this week, it was a pleasure to have both of our children return home for a visit during their week off from their studies.  My daughter arrived with a whirlwind of energy, her arms laden with textbooks and her mind full of plans for her week off.  My son, after making a bee-line to the fridge, turned and looked about him saying, "The house looks smaller."

The liveliness and boisterousness they brought with them was short-lived.  Now they're gone and our house is again peaceful and oh-so-very quiet.  I sit and look about this quiet house, and I think about my son and the confident young man he has grown into.   And then it hits me.  The house is not smaller; it's my son that's outgrown it.

20 comments:

  1. As I have a little one, I sometimes think about this empty nest in my future. Sometimes, I think it sounds lovely. Sometimes I think it sounds scary! To answer your question at my site (about which beach we take our son to), we only get to go once a year on family vacation and we go to Puerto Penasco, Mexico. Which is why it was so funny that he was naked, saying, "I'm getting ready for the beach!" Silly kids.

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  2. Kristy, I was making a joke (apparently not a very good one) about nude beaches LOL. Give that little guy a big hug because they do grow up fast.

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  3. It took me a minute to read the instructions on the box. Very funny!! Now if I could just get all of my kids out of the house at the same time, I coud ponder the wonders of an empty nest! Not sure when that is going to happen!

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  4. "The house is not smaller; it's my son that's outgrown it." - This gave me a serious lump in my throat. Sigh. My kids are still young (8 and 5), but I am acutely aware of how fast they are growing up.

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  5. Galen - thanks for pointing out my joke. I thought some college humour was appropriate.

    Samantha - it choked me up to write it. But that's our goal as parents, right? To raise them to be indepentent people who can confidently make their way without us.

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  6. Haha, love the box instructions! And a new phase in your life - how exciting!!

    Why not celebrate it by linking one of your great posts about life in Canada to the travel-related blog-hop I'm hosting?? Look forward to seeing you!!

    Red Nomad OZ
    Adventures in Australia

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  7. So beautifully written. I too got a lump in my throat at your last line. Your kids are very lucky to have you as their mom.

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  8. This made me all misty eyed. Mine two are only 6 and 8 but I can already see how I am going to have a hard time letting them go off on their own adventures at university. :(

    Thanks for stopping by my blog! I'll be back!

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  9. Oh man, mine are 4 and 6 and I feel it coming! I love my alone time (since I only get a little of it!) but I don't know how I will handle having all of that alone time. I asked them if I could live with them when they grow up and they said no :( Oh well, I have a good 12 years to talk them into it.

    Thank you so much for joining our I Love Blogging blog hop this week! I am following your beautiful blog :) I hope you have time to stop by www.mooseandtater.com

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  10. Beautiful, and it did put a lump in my throat even though I have been an empty nester for about 14 years. To this day, I wonder where the time went..it just flew by. One minute I had six little kiddo's laughing, bringing their friends over and the next the house was quiet!
    Life continues on and we have to learn to dance to a different beat.

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  11. My baby left in January and it has been difficult to say the least but there is less washing and as you mentioned the food bill is dramatically reduced also the house looks the same when I come home as when I left! Can't wait till May when he is back for a week though.
    Helen x

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  12. Boy can I relate to this! I thought parenting would be so much easier now too (its not-its so much worse when they are too old to mind!)

    Just came by for an early blog hop! (Stayed for a bit because I really enjoyed reading your posts.)

    Take Good Care!
    Self Care Girl

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  13. My mother in law just got all of the kids out of the house, I dont think she knows what to do.. but now she has a grandbaby! Im following you through the social parade, hope you'll follow back!

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  14. I just came over to visit from the Blog hop and I really like your site...cute graphics and empty nest stories...perfect!! I am just a few short months away from joining the empty nest club..so I will add you to my blog list! Come by and say hello on my site!!

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  15. Just stopping by to say hello and to wish you a very peaceful weekend.
    I had a very tough time with my empty nest but I have learned to be very careful about what I ask for. With 11 very small grand kids the nest usually has a little one or 2 running around and I love it!

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  16. My oldest is 17. She'll be leaving soon. My youngest is 4 and I can't imagine him leaving! I love the Chinese food instructions, btw!

    I'm your newest follower from The Social Parade. I'd really appreciate it if you would follow me back at Dropped Stitches. Thanks bunches.

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  17. I can so relate to this...my "little" one left for her first semester at school in the fall...she came home for winter break and she has decided to stay at a local school until the fall when she will once again transfer out of state...so my nest is temporarily full again...but the day is near...and it is never really full again...beautifully written...I found you from the over 40 blog hop and I am a new follower...Pinkim! TrulySimplyPink

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  18. Just stopping by to say hello and to wish you a very peaceful weekend.
    I had a very tough time with my empty nest but I have learned to be very careful about what I ask for. With 11 very small grand kids the nest usually has a little one or 2 running around and I love it!

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  19. So beautifully written. I too got a lump in my throat at your last line. Your kids are very lucky to have you as their mom.

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  20. My baby left in January and it has been difficult to say the least but there is less washing and as you mentioned the food bill is dramatically reduced also the house looks the same when I come home as when I left! Can't wait till May when he is back for a week though.
    Helen x

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