It is hard to give up the special time with your kids. My husband decided one year to sing at midnight mass on Christmas Eve. I was so mad at him leaving me all the wrapping and stockings and assembling....I ended up drafting my oldest boy who was about 9 and calling him my elf. Those became some of the most special times. Just before my son moved out my husband realized it might be our last Christmas with our whole family. He decided not to sing after like 15 years straight of doing it. I wanted him gone. I wanted that special time with my son. He stayed home Christmas Eve last year too when my son was gone and I still wanted him gone. I missed my son so much and wanted to cry and mourn alone. I don't think it is strange at all that you want your time back with your daughter and nothing else will do.

I feel for you. I actually kinda dread the entire weekend these days with no kids at home. I seriously don't think I'm ever going to adjust to this empty nest deal. I hate to be so negative (that's why I don't post much here!), but I really feel as though the best days of my life are over forever. I am clueless about how to get over this. I basically just drag myself through each day wishing for the 'old' days.

Thanks Paulina, as I read what I wrote, it sounded mean. But I just can't help how I feel. I just want to cry when I want to but I have to wait until I go to bed (I sleep alone).

Got3, that's the feeling, that those best days are over, we will never get them back. It is truly heartbreaking. I know it's hard to come here when you feel bad and hard when you feel good too. Sigh. We'll just drag ourselves through it together :)

Ladies - I too get such heavy feelings of sadness --- like my heart is so heavy missing my daughter so much. I do find comfort sometimes in my routine and this incudes being a lone a lot. It's difficult sometimes for me to spend time with family and try to smile and laugh when I don't want to. Sometimes I feel better being around them but then it makes coming home alone feel so much greater than if I had just not spent time with them. It's difficult to talk to those around me about how much sadness I feel at times and so I come here where I know you all will understand and please know I say a prayer for all of you out there who have "empty nests" - My child will be home for Halloween for 3 1/2 days and I will be so happy to see her but I do know that when Sunday comes I will have a panic attack and it will take me days to recover from my overwhelming grief of having her leave again. Please feel free to message me anytime - I'm hear to listen. *Thinking of you all!

I have that awful paniced feel too or when will I get to see you again. I enjoy them while they are with me, but everytime they leave I struggle with it. I am doing pretty well with my middle son as he comes over every Mon and Wed. (Yes I know that is more than most of us can ever dream of, but he got hired down the street from my house and drives by every day on his way home.) Maybe it is stupid, but I am schedule oriented and OCD and having a set schedule of communication, just hey I'll chat with you Wed night at 9pm or call every Sat would ease some of my anxiety a lot.

My daughter is coming home for a visit and I'm looking forward to it, but I'm also dreading how I will feel. While she's here I try to make every moment meaningful, which is not how it was when she lived here. It seems like so much work and I don't want to be like that.