Anonymous wrote:I'm 45 and married with teens. Marriage and kids are good (normal issues, but nothing that seems out of the ordinary to me.)
I just feel sort of lost. Kids are not as dependent on me, but husband and I are still busy driving them and helping with homework, SATs, eventually college apps, etc. They are sweet kids but not as cuddly and rewarding as when they were younger and obviously they will forge their own lives (with any luck.)
I'm sort of wondering what the heck DH and I are going to do with the rest of our lives? We enjoy each other's company and both love traveling, but that doesn't seem like enough. I probably need a hobby, but don't even have any ideas. We've had lots of nice couple friends over the years, but they all seem to have moved away, divorced, drifted apart, etc. Some could definitely be rekindled.
I don't know what my question is. I guess I just sort of feel adrift. Is this normal or weird?
Normal, except your normal has started much earlier than mine since your kids are teens. I had my DC at 42 so I had a toddler when I was your age. I'm now in my mid-60s and experiencing what you are experiencing. DC will graduate from college in May and then I will feel the effects of my empty nest even more since DC will start working and will have limited vacation time to spend with me and DH.