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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Not sure this is the right forum, but i'm getting super anxious about my kid leaving for college this fall. We're very close and spend at least a little time together every day-- several days a week we're together from after work/ school all the way to bedtime. Just watching TV or chatting or cooking together. (She has her own life with extra curriculars and friends but she has always chosen to include time with me, too.) I don't intend to text/ call constantly. She needs to grow into her own self.

So... what am I going to do with myself?

-- I've gone through a bunch of hobbies, but I don't want to fill my house with paint and yarn and gear, all to produce amateur crafts I don't want. And I'm not generally creative/ artsy. 
-- I read a ton, about as much as my eyesight can handle after a day a computer. 
-- I don't really care for TV; maybe one series at a time, and not all the time. 
-- I have friends, but they have lives and I don't want to saddle them with my neediness. And anyway, what do you DO other than walks and dinners? 
-- My job is pretty strictly M-F, 9-5. I've found that volunteering is hard with an office schedule. And DC is a place where people seem to [i]compete[/i] to volunteer. I've tried several times and found that even scheduling a shift (!) was hit-or-miss and just a lot like work. And my career is in the non-profit space anyway.

Save your tough love (meanness) please. I feel a bad place on the horizon and don't need to feel worse. Sincerely looking for some helpful thoughts for keeping busy and maybe even to grow a bit. [/quote]

The things I'm suggesting may not work with your job/computer- but just thoughts:

1. A dog- we have a beloved dog and she's been a lifeline to every member of our family through some difficulties. Again, this may be completely out of the question with your job. 
2. I do genealogy research- I'm not creative either and I like the analytical/research that goes into it. It can be time-consuming if you get down rabbit holes making it a robust hobby. 
3. Take a class in something that interests you- cooking, photography, finance, etc. You could even try one of the online Masterclasses if you don't want to commit to an in-person. They have a wide variety. 
4. Go to the gym 3-4 days a week if you're not already doing that. 
5. Is there any place in your area that you haven't explored? Farmers market, cafe, etc.? Make a list and try to get there each weekend or twice a month. 
6. You said you don't want to burden friends, which implies that you have friends. Make a once a month or twice a month plan with a few friends- that's not a burden.

My DS18 is leaving in the Fall as well. I commiserate- it's really one of the harder periods of my life. No matter what we do, it will be a transition for all of us.

I've gone through a lot of moves for DH's job-- I've found that keeping the "right" amount of busy and scheduled helps with the changes. Make sure that you are doing things that get you out of the house for awhile during the weekends. I'm prone to some depression/anxiety and being active both cognitively and physically is absolutely key to managing it. [/quote]

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