How did your life change when your kids became young adults?

Jagraf

I feel like my role as Mum is changing - since DD started A levels / going out / driving etc.

How did your life change when the kids grew up? Did you find it easy / difficult / exciting?

I feel apprehensively positive about doing more with me in mind!

pollypenny

Combination of more expensive, more worrying and more fun.

DD did same A-levels as I did, so she sometimes enjoyed discussing things. We enjoyed shopping together occasionally.

But I was a great embarrassment to them both when I went to teach in the same school as them.

Serendipitious

Well, the week that DD graduated, she got her first car and took me out for a ride and this included doing a drive-through at McDonalds of all places. She asked me what I wanted and paid for it herself. It felt like quite the role reversal sitting in the passenger seat being handed a takeaway! I'll never forget it!

Many years on and she has her own family now so I go over there a lot to help, but now and again she'll pick me up to go shopping with her and that always feels like a treat, even if it's only Tesco!

ManofLeisure_2

Jagraf wrote: »

How did your life change when the kids grew up

My wallet became a lot lighter . Just when I thought the expense of bringing up 4 children (putting them through uni etc) would be a thing of the past - the grandchildren started to arrive .

mintymoneysaver

I divorced when my children were teenagers. So I started dating again. This year my eldest was happily spending half the week at her boyfriends, and youngest was at Uni. I'd just started enjoying having my freedom, staying over at my boyfriend's mid week, having whatever I liked for my tea.
Now eldest has split up with her boyfriend, and youngest is back for a 7 week placement as it's easier to stay at home! I'm feeling severely like my wings have been clipped.

nearlyrich

We always had a life of our own when the children were young lucky to have responsible baby sitters etc. My two went to air training corps so their teenage years included a lot of ferrying about to various activities. Both went away to uni in successive years so we have been mainly just the two of us for around 12 years now. Just had our first grandchild s life is changing again all good ..

Jagraf

mintymoneysaver wrote: »

I divorced when my children were teenagers. So I started dating again. This year my eldest was happily spending half the week at her boyfriends, and youngest was at Uni. I'd just started enjoying having my freedom, staying over at my boyfriend's mid week, having whatever I liked for my tea.
Now eldest has split up with her boyfriend, and youngest is back for a 7 week placement as it's easier to stay at home! I'm feeling severely like my wings have been clipped.

Oh no!! I suppose we should never take anything for granted

pigpen

Spending nice time with them instead of nagging about rooms/homework.. the biggest problem we have it I would like to know if they are in for dinner or out overnight.. I don't think that's too much to ask.

Grandchildren are naughty nightmares.. they are always worse than your own were *rose tinted specs* .. but they go home so you get to do the fun bits and send them home!

I was rather looking forward to the littlest starting nursery in September and have 3 hours a day to myself.. oh well.. lol.. I now have my grandson and then next year I will have the grand-girl while DD1 is at uni..

I'm rather looking forward to being too old and having nothing at all to do!

System

Ive got one son left at home and i still feel that i am in 'Mum' mode. I dont think i will really feel any different until he leaves home.

However, i must say, my relationship with my younger daughter changed for the better when she had her son. For once, she was able to accept that she didnt know everything and maybe, just maybe, Mom knows best (where babies are at least).

pollyanna24

Judi wrote: »

Ive got one son left at home and i still feel that i am in 'Mum' mode. I dont think i will really feel any different until he leaves home.

However, i must say, my relationship with my younger daughter changed for the better when she had her son. For once, she was able to accept that she didnt know everything and maybe, just maybe, Mom knows best (where babies are at least).

This is exactly how I feel with my mum. It took me having my own children to realise how great she actually is!! I don't take my mum for granted any more and since I've had my girls, she probably thinks I've had a personality change as I rave about my mum to anyone who'll listen.

Hope it doesn't take my own daughters that long to realise how great I am, haha!

enthusiasticsaver

I suffered a little bit with empty nest syndrome when both my DDs went off to Uni but eventually really enjoyed having a bit more time and money to do things for me and OH. As they went out to work, bought their own homes and one is now married with her own DD it is always nice to catch up and spend time together. I just feel really proud of them both and their achievements and how considerate they both are. Not sure how much of that is down to me and OH but they are just lovely young women, mind you I am biased . Financially we were better off as they became independent but now the DGD is here that may change.