Love my DD but man both DH and I are ready for the next chapter in ALL of our lives. Its weird bc a few years ago I thought I would dread this time ( she is a senior) but everyone seems really ready including her.

I love my DS. Can't wait until he goes to college next year.

My only child, a college freshman, just told me he was spending summer in D.C. So excited!

Anonymous wrote:The drama with DS is unbearable. Very sneaky and secretive. Good grades but horrible attitude almost 24/7. He is under 18 but does not think he owes us any information on his whereabouts, etc. Is this happening at other people's homes?

My DS is a freshman and this is going on here. Dreading three more years of this. On the other hand, DD is a senior and a near perfect angel. I have been in a funk for the whole school year, thinking my heart will break when she goes off to college. Any casual mention of this by well-meaning friends and family and i have to fight back tears. But the last couple of weeks she has been hinting that she might want to live at home and attend a close by college. Oddly enough I am NOT liking this idea! She is suddenly starting to get on my nerves.
I guess the point is this - whether or not the high school years are a good time between parent and child it seems like the natural order of things for kids to move toward independence after high school. We all enter a new season of life at this point. Maybe some of the emotional stuff we go through is more about change and less about letting go of our kids.

Anonymous wrote:I didn't want my kid to leave and I still miss her. She graduated from college 2 years ago and left home for good. She never even returned for summers after her first year of college. She doesn't fit the stereotype of an only child.

This makes me sad for you. Do you all still chat? I guess one way to look at it is that you did an awesome job raising a super independent kid! Well done!

I didn't want my kid to leave and I still miss her. She graduated from college 2 years ago and left home for good. She never even returned for summers after her first year of college. She doesn't fit the stereotype of an only child.

It happened in mine. It happens in a lot of homes. Not all, as a PP noted.

I was ready for both kids to go. For DC1 it was as you described, and it's been so much better since college. For DC2 there were no battles or senioritis to contend with but it just seemed like it was time. We've totally adjusted to the empty nest and actually really enjoy it.

My high school senior goes back and forth with her behavior, half the time with me wanting to strangle her, like when she took the car without permission on Tuesday during the evening ice to see her boyfriend. But then there are days like yesterday during the snow when we hang out on the couch together and watch Jane the Virgin and Scandal, and I know how crazy much I will miss her in the fall.

We have four that have left the nest. That behavior is totally normal. It's a coping mechanism. You'll get through it. And you'll miss him like crazy when he's gone!

I wish I had done what OP's DC is doing; instead I was like 11:39's DD and just did what I could to please my parents. They did not want to let go of me after that, and it was incredibly difficult to move on after college. My Mom still hates for for leaving the area. So, it's probably for the best that your kid is doing their own thing and you won't miss him that much!

Too bad that DC acts in the manner noted by PP. My DD is fantastic....goes to school, participates in sports practice; comes home (tired) studies; hangs out with friends from time-to-time....husband and I are dreading the day she leaves....tough ordering those graduation invites.....so no we are not looking forward to it but know it has to happen.....

Its called spoiling the nest. Totally normal. My DC went through this and I was so relieved when she left. I adore the girl but things are much calmer. And she's much more pleasant when she comes home.

Is DS a senior? That kind of behavior is not unusual for seniors. A counselor at my DC's university told us parents at orientation that it's part of the normal separation process for kids who are getting ready to leave for college. They won't miss you as much if they find you annoying, and (thankfully) you won't miss them as much, either. I can say that although I love my DC very much, things were much more relaxed at home once DC was gone. Hang in there!

The drama with DS is unbearable. Very sneaky and secretive. Good grades but horrible attitude almost 24/7. He is under 18 but does not think he owes us any information on his whereabouts, etc. Is this happening at other people's homes?