It’s a major milestone in the life of middle aged parents everywhere – that moment when your child leaves home.
But although you know it’s coming, nothing really prepares you for it – and the maelstrom of emotions that accompanies it, as I’m now learning.
Miss 18 has moved out.
I’ve had so many mixed feelings in the week that she’s been gone:
- Grief and Loss – Our family has changed forever, and I can’t help feeling some sadness over the way things were. I’ve found myself looking at old photo albums and remembering my children as babies, toddlers, starting school … (I don’t really want to remember the teenage years though!)
- Surprise – I always thought Mr 20 would be the first to leave. However, after a rocky patch about a year ago, he seems to realise just how good he’s got it at home and shows no inclination to leave anytime soon 😉 .
- Loneliness – Miss 18 and I have a great relationship – she is one of my best friends! But now I don’t get to see her everyday, there are some feelings of loneliness. I work from home, and until recently she worked casual hours so she was often around, meaning that I felt less isolated.
- Pride – The goal of parenting is to raise a child to adulthood and independence. Time to celebrate a job well done!
- Concern – How will Miss 18 go? Will she eat properly? Will she be safe? How will she go with budgetting and paying bills and all the other responsibilities that come when you move out of home?
- Excitement – It’s an exciting time in a young person’s life, to set up home for the first time by themselves – I can’t help but be excited for Miss 18 on her new adventure!
- Relief – I’d by lying if I said there wasn’t also some sense of relief. It’s common in the lead up for a child leaving home, for there to be some disagreements and pushing at the boundaries, as they start to spread their wings. Miss 18 was no exception … it’s nice to have a harmonious home once again.
- Hope – Deep down I’m hoping that her foray in the real world will be short lived, and she’ll be moving back home again in the not-too-distant future!
- Exhaustion – At the end of the day, I’m finding all these emotions can be downright exhausting!
So there’s good and bad, and I can feel any or all of these emotions within any given five minute period 😉 .
Thank goodness I got a selfie stick for my birthday – now that I’ve lost my chief photographer for my #everydaystyle and #fashionfromtherealworld posts!
Do you have any tips for me on handling my emotions now that my child has left home?!
Linking with Essentially Jess for IBOT