As Facebook and Instagram are full of first day of primary school/first day of secondary school/first day of sixth form photos I realise that for the first time in 20 years I won’t be posting one of those. I am about to become a parent whose children will all be living away from home during term time and dare I say it, I’m excited!
The ‘Empty Nest’ articles that I read generally have feelings that this cartoon depicts but I have to say I feel the opposite. I am ready for us ALL to spread our wings. It’s the right time. Time for my daughter to start her third year and time for my son to start his university experience. It is also time for my husband and I to start a new part of our lives and I am not afraid to say that I am really looking forward to it. Perhaps it selfish to say this and perhaps people won’t understand that I am not dreading it or wishing they didn’t have to go. Of course I will miss my kids and I can assure you I will be counting the days until they come home (or will I??!) but I am looking forward to the independence it will bring us at home. Despite the children being older and we are able to do pretty much whatever we want, there is still a pull to be home for certain times, to ensure the fridge is full and to rush back for a certain something if needs be. But now I am ready for some stints of ‘us’ time – for us not to worry about who needs to be where and at what time and for phone calls asking when we will be back home.
For 3 terms worth of 12 weeks it will be our time. That works out to 252 evenings together, 252 dinners and lunches. Writing it down like that, it actually seems like a huge amount but I look forward to it.
Maybe it is because I know this is only going to last a year that I am able to wave them off so easily. My daughter is going into her final year at university and therefore will be back home full-time come September I presume. However she might choose to travel for a while so the transition will continue.
Either way, home life will no longer be the same static one it once was. Now is the time for movement, for comings and goings and not staying the same. I remember when I first had children the book that was the top seller was ‘What to Expect When You Are Expecting’. I guess the book that I really need now is ‘What to Expect 18 years After You Were Expecting.’
So, if anyone has any ideas on how to cook for those 252 meals or anything exciting I should now be doing when I don’t have to think about children or babysitters please let me know. I am excited to be given the opportunity to try!
Zoe Sinclair, Founder, Employees Matter