Aww, Biggirl, you can cry on my shoulder anytime you like. I went through seperation anxiety with all three of my daughters.
I cried when they each started to take their first steps (because they weren’t babies anymore), slobbered when they went off to kindergarten; I bawled like a baby when they started first grade and made a blubbering fool outta myself when they started high school.
The funny thing is, we all survived their coming of age. I felt the pang of the empty nest most acutely. When my eldest went off to college (“Down, MOM, DOWN! Let go of my leg!!”), I had two more at home. Then when my middle child left for college, at least I still had one at home. That wasn’t enough for me, so I took in two foster kids.
My foster children graduated the same year as my youngest, and all three left me that year to seek their fortunes elsewhere. It was touch and go there for a while, but when I realized my electric bill was a mere 40% of what it had been when the kids were still at home, I felt a sort of tingle go through me.
There is a life after children. I still reflect with bittersweetness all the good times and bad we had while they were growing up. But raising children is a means to an end. They do have to have their own lives eventually. And you never stop worrying about them. They will always be the toddler that held steadfast to your hand, trusting you to protect them against boo-boos and Bad Things.
Your adult children will remember how you loved them, corrected them and taught them how to be the young adults they are now. All five of my children are best friends with one another, and with me.
It can be very hard to let them go, but they will come home to visit. It’s not the end of the world. It’s a natural progression to full adult status. Remember when you were their age? Eh?
Believe me, you will find the strength within yourself to cope with the empty nest. Be prepared for a period of adjustment and you’ll be fine. And take the hubby up on his offer of “travel”. 