Learning to Empty Nest

I’ve been sitting in my living room contemplating changes.

We are empty nesters.

It’s been all of 4 days since the last one left. The youngest left 11 days ago. Soon I won’t count.

Hall of Mirrors Versailles

Yikes! It is the first time in over 38 years my husband and I have lived without a child at home.

These girls will be home at holidays and a few weekends.

We see our older kids and families often and regularly. Most holidays are family affairs.

Still…day to day we will be forging a new normal for us.

Morning in Pisa

I keep pondering that and looking through photos mentally almost coming to so decision about what photo books to make and what kind of fabric will I get to recover our French side chairs. Bold and bright but not modern or Boho.

There are other projects but it’s not like when younger children go to school and I switched into “I”ll get this and that done now and what is for dinner”. Setting schedules around work and activities. The needs and wants of others.

Allgau Lake and the Alps from Neuschwanstein Castle

Now it’s two. Did I mention we are retired?

There’s still school board meetings (I’m on our local one; it’s like a part-time job plus), ministries, the gym and part-time flex work with Circa Imports, a furniture and accessory wholesale company for Jim.

Piazza della Signoria Florence

We are going south to help out with baby sitting with our youngest grand for a few days until their new part time nanny starts. Looking forward to that.

Piazza della Signoria Florence

We already booked our first cruise. It’s a test run. Will we like it or prefer land based resorts? Maybe a stop at spring training on the drive home.

A holiday weekend is coming. Some are coming this weekend to hang out with us and his sister’s family. Then it will be time for me to get going with this new normal.