It is hard to sort of give up the looking after them role - though when my first one left home I was then looking after my poorly parents so that filled that gap for a while. I'm sure you will get used to it and you sound busy with hobbies and friends. Do you work? I found my job also helped a lot.
I have another thing to get used to now as my youngest son emigrated in the summer - only to a European country but it's still stopped our spontaneous get togethers and I really miss him. I'm really excited for him taking this step but also sad. I miss his random messages asking if I have an hour spare (he only lived fifteen miles away) as he could take a break from work (WFH), he'd just been to his local bakery and there was a chocolate eclair with my name on it. Lovely times. It seems weird that everything has to be planned and booked in advance now. Finding a time when we can go and visit and he is free. Plane tickets. Hotel accommodation. The cost! But, he's happy and I'm hanging on to that. As has been said before we encourage them to do the best they can, give them belief in themselves and know that we've done a good job when it all works out for them to live their own lives.
I also found that the house was so quiet after they'd all moved out and I still find it strange when I don't know where they are. I called one of mine last week and he answered with a snappy "What's wrong?" and I just said that I hadn't heard from him recently and wondered if was ok. He said "Mum I'm in Belgium at the minute." I told him I didn't know he was in Belgium and he said "Mum, why would you need to know that even?" Well of course I need to know that. He did remind me that he was 36 - I tend to forget that
Taz x
