Monday 28 June 2010

Partially empty nest syndrome

I'm not sure that I do 'letting go' very well. I love the fact my kids are independent and that my son, in particular, is adventurous and eager to experience what they can. But for a mum who has the worry gene imprinted in her DNA, it's kind of hard.
I've tried so hard to latch on to my son's excitement over his month long trip to Europe. I've encouraged and shown an interest in places on maps which have very strange names and very little vowels in their spellings. I've helped get clothes and toiletries together. I even gave him and 2 friends a lift to the station this morning. But I can't deny that I wish he had more concrete plans rather than flight tickets, a booking for a few days in a hostel in Croatia, a ticket for a music festival, an Interrail ticket and a map. So be prepared for a bumpy ride with me over the next few weeks! All I can tell you is all that I know: he will be staying in Zadar this week and he is planning to be the Garden Festival here over next weekend. I tried to instill some culture into him by telling him that I had heard of the sea organ which had been built there where the action of the sea hitting various pipes etc makes atmospheric noises. Impressed? No of course he wasn't.
Talking of music, the evening on Saturday was amazing. So many talented musicians at one school. There was much dancing going on and if there had been a prize for the table with the most food on it, we would definitely have won - we all over catered. No one went home hungry!

10 comments:

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Sweet post, Deb. I completely understand your empty nest feelings. My daughter has been in her own house for one week and I'm still worrying about silly little things. Hopefully this next month will go by quickly, your son will come home and have all sorts of stories to tell about his wonderful adventure.

Glad your musical evening was fun! Hang in there! xo

scrappyjacky said...

Totally empathise with you,Deb...cildren actually become more of a worry as they grow older....when I expected it to be less!!

Sian said...

I strongly suspect I'm going to feel this way too in a couple of years. Why do sons have to grow up so fast?! Lovely honest post Deb, and I look forward to hearing more about his travels.

Maria Ontiveros said...

Deb,
I bet the month will fly by! I know how you feel, though. DS just went off this morning for his first day of "work." He's only getting "community service hours" (a graduation requirement for school) instead of pay, but it's still a regularly scheduled job that he had to interview for and everything. It's 9:30-2:30 Monday-Thursday for six weeks, working at a kids' sports camp run by the afterschool program he attended for six years. And the house feels empty in a different way than when he's at practice or school!
Rinda

Rachel Brett said...

Lovely post Deb, Glad you have a fab musical evening : )

Jennifer Grace said...

I hope you son has a fab time - and I hope he remembers to keep phoning you and telling you all about it (so you can then, in turn, blog about it so we all hear the stories too. No, we're not at all nosey!)

Glad you had a fun night out!

humel said...

Aww, Deb xx Will he have internet access at all? An email or two (or Facebook update) would help you to feel better, I'm sure. We'll be here for you! (And if you like, we can leave wet towels and dirty clothes lying around, eat you out of house and home, and grunt at you regularly?)

Denise said...

Awwww totally feel for you wishing he had more concrete plans,but that's boys isn't it? Hope he remembers to text or facebook his mum and we are all here feeling all your emotions. So glad you had enough food on Saturday ! P.S the cakes were ok but just the same as the last lot I made - think I UNDER mixed them this time ....xxxx

Denise said...
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Liberty :) said...

Ive been to Zadar its fab don't panic!! If he gets stuck for accommodation wotif.com saved my bacon in Australia!!