I know what you mean. Often times someone will either remind me of our ED or just be in the early 20s age bracket. If the girl is with her mother I often think how that should be us.

Oh yes, I do this a lot. My ES looks an AWFUL lot like Justin Timberlake & he often gets confused for Justin. So, every time I see Justin T on TV, my heart aches. It's hard to see a mother & son with a good relationship. I still, after all these years, get a bit jealous of the mother/daughters I see together, since my mom left when I was 8. I have at times, even though I'm as old as I am, still long for a mothers love/guidance/advice.

I think all these feelings are natural. I deal with them too.

And now my dearest friend has so many great things going on with all 3 of her adult children - son found a great girlfriend and they are planning a wedding, older daughter is planning a wedding for end of summer and her middle daughter is pregnant with their first grandchild. I am so very happy for her but have to admit I wish some good would happen with my family.

That would have to be that either my ES come home or that my son who is close to us would find a wonderful girlfriend and get married. It seems my DH and I walk alone amongst so many great family relationships all around us.

I know how you feel. I do the same thing sometimes but I don't get out very much so it does not happen often. That is a good thing for me. What gets me more is seeing children that "I think" might look like one of my grandkids.

I so know that heartache, when I see a boy of 12-14 or even younger, esp when they are giggling, goofy skinny and blond haired, i struggle, when i see a group of young boys togethor laughing at the dumbest young boy jokes i so miss him.. Im glad Im over the schooling phase as I struggled with that, I homeschooled on m-f and workd fri sat and sun nocs. it was isolative at least for me, but i think the kids did better, but the thought of the anxiety my dau went thru esp after she got depressed and gained wieight kids /esp girls were cruel,.. Im soglad i dont deal w/that anymore, I feel sorry for what my dau couldve had in high school she did so well in jr high, but girls get jealous and she didnt have the stamina after my son left, so when seeing a group of teen girls having fun i feel bad for my dau... always a trigger isnt there.,, I loved being around my kids and hearing the laughter, my son could impersonate anybody or animal , one favorite memory is at the age of 5 we were at a cottage on the lake it was dusk and the loons were calling , he would call back and it went back and forth , so peaceful, so precious loons trigger me too....lol... call me a nutter...... huggs ladies, one thing i have begun to learn is to thank God for the memories, they were painful before but less now and Im grateful to have and cherish them

Thanks for your thoughts. At least I know I'm not crazy although I feel like I'm going crazy. I saw a middle age man in Sears helping his elderly mother recently. It brought tears to my eyes for sure. I thought neither one of my sons would ever do that for me. I want my es to live his own life and be independent but I just wonder why I can't have an occasional lunch with him, visit, call, etc. Yes, I miss the laughter. I know he's young. Hopefully in time, that's all I can pray. Prayers to you all.

Yes, I've done this lots, too...

I also tear up when I see little kids with their grandparents. That is different that seeing someone that looks like your EK but it does just get to me.