Now What...?

My Nest is Relatively Empty

   When the youngest of my 5 little angels moved out recently, I learned first hand what all of this "empty nest" talk is about.

   I began building my nest almost 32 years ago. Since that time my entire life has revolved around my little "chicks".

Diapers, breast feeding, morning sickness, carpools, home schooling, doctor appointments, scouting, piano, tennis, soccer, drama, guitar, drums, cheerleading, hospital stays (WAY too many), hair cuts, slumber parties, picture days, stitches, room mothering, birthday parties, broken bones and casts, sleepless nights, chicken pox, sprains, braces, illnesses without names, house cleaning, grocery shopping, cooking, dating (them, not me), paying bills, running errands, proms, homecomings, football games, basketball games, home decorating (including painting, wall papering and making draperies as well as designing custom made furniture for our kids bedrooms as well as our bonus room) and entertaining. I was a combination of Mary Poppins and Martha Stewart before anyone even knew who she was.  

   I was very "old school." I was married right out of high school. I had children right away and became a full-time mother. I did not pursue any career other than raising my brood. I had the mind set that there was nothing more important in this world than raising my children and fortunately I was able to stay at home and devote every moment of my life to my kids. I have no regrets...but I have made some discoveries...

First of all, if you don't take any time for yourself for 32 years, you sort of forget who you are, what you like and what you don't like.

For instance, in the grocery store I almost called my daughter to see if we needed more cheese. Then I realized;  1). My daughter lives hundreds of miles away now, in another state, and 2). It doesn't matter if we ARE out of cheese since I don't like it! Wow, all of these years I bought cheese and I just realized that I don't like it. I also do not like green beans or cranberry juice and I don't have to buy it any more.

I am certain that my cat talks to me now. She probably did before, but I just never heard her.

I only have to do the laundry once every two weeks. More importantly, when I put socks in the wash, they come out in pairs! The sock monster who was responsible for eating socks has apparently moved out with the kids.

I only run my dishwasher once a week.

If I buy food that I want to eat, I don't have to hide it from anyone!

Guess what, I LOVE orange juice!

My clothes and jewelry used to get "borrowed" frequently but never seemed to find their way back to my closet, even though no one knew what happened to them...not anymore. "No one" must have moved out.

These are very small discoveries. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I have not had the time to really explore the possibilities yet.

As I continue to learn how to live on my own for the first time in my life I anticipate many more discoveries...and hopefully they will be more significant than trying to remember that I don't need to buy in bulk anymore.