Whilst I do miss the "good ol days" when my children were young, I am so glad that it's over now. I don't think I could cope with it. Having an empty nest does have some advantages: our routine doesn't have to be as inflexible as when we had young ones to look after.
Meals are pretty impromptu affairs. We may plan to have such and such for dinner, but then decide either we aren't hungry or we may eat something like rice bubbles for dinner. Also, the meal hours are according to how we feel. And if I don't feel up to cooking, we will have a frozen dinner. We couldn't do that with young ones.
Bedtime hours are also more flexible as we go to bed when we feel like it. If I can't sleep it's no big deal to get up and make us a cup of tea and go back a few hours later. Waking up late is no problem either, neither are nana naps anymore. I take them as required.
I don't think I would make a good mother these days: Xena often wakes me up to feed her and I feel quite annoyed. I suppose it would be different if it were a child.
There's also a good reason for menopause: I think if I had a baby now I would forget where I had put it. And now with fibromyalgia fog, I know I would!
So even though I miss some aspects of my young mothering days, I am totally content with the flexibility empty nesting has now in my latter years. Besides, I couldn't stand being asleep while the teens get ready to go out. And forget about waiting up all night for them to get home safely.
No, sometimes I am mighty happy to be an empty-nester!
© Glenys Robyn Hicks
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: Ecclesiastes 3:1
Your post made me laugh. There are benefits to not having an empty next. You have so much flexibility. It reminds me to enjoy the place you are at.
ReplyDeleteImagine living to 800 or 900 years, like before the flood. You could have little ones for a few hundred years. LOL
I can't imagine that. I definitely can't stand the thought lol
DeleteGlenys, I don’t have an empty nest yet, but it’s getting closer every day. I appreciate your perspective … I have a feeling my empty nest might take a little getting used to, but I think I’ll love it too. :-)
ReplyDeleteI loved having children to raise. But honestly, at this stage of my life where chronic illness has come to reside, I am grateful that those days are behind me. Having an overabundance of maternal hormones, I never thought I would feel like that. God compensates us at every stage of our life. There's always a new door opening. Now is the season for me to be creative or write. I am grateful for this new season. Thanks for having a cuppa with me today. Be blessed!
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