With both sons away at college (Stephen at Humboldt State University in Arcata; David at the University of the Pacific in Stockton ... although he's doing a semester overseas in Japan right now), Judy and I have begun to experience the "empty nest" syndrome.
I admit to teasing the boys that when they were out of the house how much better my life would be. And, yes, there are some things that have changed for the better. Bathrooms stay cleaner. There's not the wrangling over who is going to use the car when or who needs to use the computer RIGHT NOW! I can watch the television shows that I want to watch and actually eat all the peanut butter cookies.
It's the subtle things that are missed. It's the things that made David and Stephen who they are. The humor. The different interests. Even watching them come to grips with the greatest teacher in the world - reality - proved to be interesting.
I realize I'll be singing a different tune when they come home for the summer and want to have all the same independence that they had at school. There will be tussles about how to contribute to the family and so forth. It's all part of growing up.
Both them and us.
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