Our "kids" are 26 & 22 and they are wonderful, I could not love them more. Our daughter is in college, so she is home over her breaks and for summer. Our son just moved out last fall to start his 1st "real job" after grad school. I am starting to regret not having more kids. (I am turning 49 this year so that is NOT happening now!) I miss having them at home.
My son has informed me children are not even in his 10 year plan. He is not even in a serious relationship and has decided to go back to school to get his doctorate. My daughter has said she does not want to have kids. Obviously they have to do what is best for them. We have raised them to be self sufficient adults and they are doing good.
My husband and I own a small business, we are crazy busy. I would love to get a dog, but it would be at home alone toooo often.
I am starting to feel like we should have had 4 but in our 20's, 2 was the limit and I had no regrets then.
Is this just being an empty nester?
I feel your "pain"! My boys are 26 and 23! I had wanted a third, but was treated for cancer when my youngest was 2, so that ended that. (I have gone on to have cancer two more times, all different, and while my health is great, and my last diagnosis was 2011, it was best in that regard that we didn't have another.)
I loved every stage of them growing up! They were both three sport athletes and we never missed a game! (Unless they played at the same exact time, then I had to go to one or the other.) We were always on the go. They were both on travel hockey teams, so the winter months especially, we would be gone all weekend going to multiple games.
I loved having all of their friends over. I loved loading up the van in the summer with their friends and going to the lake, beach, mountains, amusement parks.
I truly miss those times. But, I also know that at my age, 52, I don't have the energy that I did when they were younger, and would never be able to keep up the pace.
In the last 5 years, after my youngest went to college, my husband and I have traveled a lot together. While, I would rather still have the four of us together on vacation, (which we have still done once a year) we have adapted to our new life.
I also have two grand nieces that are 5 and 2 and we are very close to them. That really helps!! In fact next week, the 5 year old will be on Feb. vacation and I am taking her to Chuckie Cheese one day!! Can't wait!! I will also take the 2 year old for a day too!
I am blessed to, that I am very close to my boys. In fact, last month, the four of us just spend 12 nights at Disney! In three weeks, my husband and I along with my youngest are going to Charleston SC, to the wedding of one of his buddies, who we are super close to.
So, in a nutshell, it is hard and I struggle, but am finding my way with travel, time spent with my little nieces and still having a close relationship with my boys that even though they are grown, will still find time to vacation with us and hang out with us.
I have considered looking into being a "big sister" type mentor to a child, but haven't taken the plunge.