It's our first empty-nester Easter!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we're a close-knit family and are churchgoers, it's sometimes simply not possible for college students and older adult kids to make it home for a holiday.

There are pros to this. Young adult children can strike out, find their own church, and then celebrate a major religious holiday in a new spiritual "home." In an age of helicopter parenting and college students who are in touch multiple times per week with their parents, this is healthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait - college kids don’t come home for Easter??? I am so dreading this.

Why are you assuming OP's kids are in college?

Because she said 1st.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we're a close-knit family and are churchgoers, it's sometimes simply not possible for college students and older adult kids to make it home for a holiday.

There are pros to this. Young adult children can strike out, find their own church, and then celebrate a major religious holiday in a new spiritual "home." In an age of helicopter parenting and college students who are in touch multiple times per week with their parents, this is healthy.

OP here and I totally agree. BTW, I'm guessing that 1 out of 4 will go to church in his new city on Easter.

Also, while I'm definitely proud of our kids, I apologize if my earlier comment was perceived as bragging. As others have noted, I was trying to respond to posters who expressed surprise or dismay about college and adult kids not coming home for Easter. BTW, we did send them Peeps -- and I resisted eating any of them while packing the boxes. That I will brag about!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- Our Easter plan now includes seeing the bluebells at River Bend park! Thanks for that great suggestion as well as the other posts. For those who are surprised that our kids aren't coming home, I'd just say that while we're a close-knit family and are churchgoers, it's sometimes simply not possible for college students and older adult kids to make it home for a holiday. The distance might be too far or school and work schedules might not permit them to travel. We feel fortunate to have seen all four kids two weeks ago for a family event. That's like an Easter miracle when you have one on the west coast, one in medical residency and two who are college students and athletes attending school out of state!

Your Easter plans should include learning to communicate without bragging about your children. I can see why no one invites you to do things with them.

Boy, are you weird!

They did not brag.

Plus they said they are having dinner with friends.

OP-ignore this strange person!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just here to say I'm super jealous -- just had to wrangle my toddler whose daycare was closed. Thankfully it's a shorter spring break than public schools but I long for the quiet bliss of empty nest.

Your poor child. Why have them at all?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- Our Easter plan now includes seeing the bluebells at River Bend park! Thanks for that great suggestion as well as the other posts. For those who are surprised that our kids aren't coming home, I'd just say that while we're a close-knit family and are churchgoers, it's sometimes simply not possible for college students and older adult kids to make it home for a holiday. The distance might be too far or school and work schedules might not permit them to travel. We feel fortunate to have seen all four kids two weeks ago for a family event. That's like an Easter miracle when you have one on the west coast, one in medical residency and two who are college students and athletes attending school out of state!

Your Easter plans should include learning to communicate without bragging about your children. I can see why no one invites you to do things with them.

you must be fun at parties; that's if you get invited to any. JFC, you're terrible Muriel.

[Anonymous]

Riverbend Park is gorgeous! My only recommendation is to get there early-ish. There is paved parking but I think will fill up early since it’s supposed to be nice sunny weather. Maybe you can go for walk first then relaxing brunch. Georgetown Pike in that area past Great Falls National Park can get busy on a sunny weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just here to say I'm super jealous -- just had to wrangle my toddler whose daycare was closed. Thankfully it's a shorter spring break than public schools but I long for the quiet bliss of empty nest.

Your poor child. Why have them at all?

Just say you hate working mothers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just here to say I'm super jealous -- just had to wrangle my toddler whose daycare was closed. Thankfully it's a shorter spring break than public schools but I long for the quiet bliss of empty nest.

Your poor child. Why have them at all?

Just say you hate working mothers.

Yep. It's okay to complain (on a parenting forum of all places) about the hard stages, jeesh!

[Anonymous]

Not sure if you’ve made brunch reservations but J.Gilbert’s in central McLean has an Easter Brunch. It would not be long drive from Riverbend.

https://www.jgilberts.com/mclean/menus/Easter