Confessions of an Empty-Nester

Not surprisingly, I have been asked more than once, how I am doing with the empty nest syndrome. It was not long after Eli and Cal were both lodged in their apartments near Illinois State University that I started noticing little differences around the house, most of them nice little benefits. I wasn't sure if there would be much change, since Eli was in New Jersey all summer and Cal was busy working and playing with his homies. However, here are few things that hit me these past three weeks:

• I can lock all the doors every night because we don't have to worry if "someone" remembered their house key
• I can walk from the bathroom to the bedroom (or wherever) in a towel or less without fear of scaring anyone to death
• The weekly grocery bill is under $100 and the cart looks positively empty (I can splurge on T-bone steak since we can get by on one)
• I might be able to get Pat to eat healthy now. I didn't have a chance when it was 4 or 3 against 1
• Leftovers can be safely put away immediately after dinner
• The house stays remarkably clean
• It is a huge joy to be able to help our kids financially and emotionally now rather than the physicality that was put into their early years
• Time with the boys (Adam included) becomes that much more special. Eli and Cal joined me in Louisville this past weekend and it was absolutely amazing to have that time together.  

I wouldn't tell them "don't let the door hit you going out" but I wouldn't say this phase of life doesn't have its own sweetness. You just have to open your nostrils to the new scents.