Big day today.....

It's going to feel oh, so quiet... This is DS's 2nd year at uni and I still struggle with it a bit, but I love having less mess, lower food bills and less washing. And him stealing all the broadband width. I'm so pleased you have them so near. And your other daughter will be round more often, too, that's lovely. I wish my family lived close by.

Meant to say to you nanapug. Seven years is a long time and you must be a very close family to come out of it still friends!

When our DD and GS moved out after a year of sanctuary and she declared herself moved out by going through the stuff she had left behind, I finally turned her room into the spare bedroom I had always wanted. Just turfing everything out, repainting and buying a new bed and bed linen kept me busy and focussed on something other than the empty nest. The finished room has been described as 'Upmarket B and B' and she loves coming to stay occasionally

You have done a great job Nanapug and I am sure your DD and DGS will miss you both so much, but living near by is such a bonus.

When my only child left for University and never returned to live, I felt bereft. But the bonus was time to myself and so in my 50s I took myself off to Uni and had a brilliant time.

Is there something you and your OH would like to do, but just haven't had the chance ? Because NOW could be your time.

We are in our late 60s and both realise that we must make the most of the years we have left together. So we no longer say 'can we afford to do this or that' or 'do we have the time' NO we just do it and sod the consequences

You must be a lovely Mum nanapug to have them coming and going like that.

Thank you all for your lovely messages. Yes, they are very near so I will see them and have already been booked for babysitting on Wednesday!! I have been quite strict and said I will only do one sit a week and am definitely going to stick with it. The house looks as if someone has done a moonlight flit at the moment as there is so much stuff she still needs to go through. I am itching to get the rooms back to "normal" but will have to wait a while for that. My other DD is setting up her cloth nappy business in one of the bedrooms, as she is working from her dining room table at the moment, so that will be nice to have her popping in to work there. Every cloud has a silver lining....

nanapug we are blessed in that all our DGC live very near to where we live. A few years ago we all went on holiday together but my DH and I stayed on for a few days when they went home and I was so down when they left as I missed them so much!!! Big (hug) for you. You have been a rock for them all these years. Like other posters I do hope they are not far away. Some time for you and your OH now to have some space for yourselves. What more can you do for your kids than be there when they need you. Big bunch of for you.

nanapug as a grandchild who was taken under the wing of her grandparents (with my brother and sister and my mother, their daughter) 60years ago now, all I can tell you is that I have never forgotten their love, how they made us feel safe and gave us a home. We also eventually moved out (in those days my mother qualified as a secretary - a degree would have been a bridge too far).

As an adult, I used to marvel at the fact that my grandparents did that - opened their home to us, seemingly without a second thought.

I adored my gran and had the opportunity to thank her for it once I understood the enormity of what they had done for us. A lesson in love.

to you and everyone else in a similar situation.

I feel for you too Nanapug and, I agree, you did a really selfless thing

As lots of you know, we have DD3 and her children here at the moment but I sincerely hope it isn't going to be for 9 years. Yesterday, the Idiot had the children and I missed them even though the peace was wonderful.

I am sure you will always have a wonderful relationship with your DGS as you have been so close.

Enjoy the time with your DH and the peace and quiet. It sometimes worries me too that DH or I will kick the bucket before we have had much time together. I hope they live near enough for you to see him often and, no doubt, you will be needed for sleepovers to enable your DD to have a social life.

it'll get easier.

Ah nanpug I feel for you! It will be a time of mixed emotions but you did a wonderful thing for them and now its time for you both. Enjoy your peace and space and enjoy the family when they come to visit. xxx

Yes, well done nanapug, what a wonderful thing you were able to do for them.
I'm sure that they will both appreciate you and dh, and miss you too, but that special relationship and closeness will always be there.

Be proud of yourselves, nanapug. Your DD and DGS will always be a huge part of your lives because they will never forget that you gave them support and security when they needed it most.

You have much to look forward to so enjoy the next phase your life.

You have done a great job, and now a new phase of life is opening up for all of you. It is tough I know, but life moves on, and, just like when our children leave home and set up on their own for the first time, we have to pat ourselves on the back for a job well done that has enabled them to make their own way in the world.

How wonderful for your DD that you were there when they needed you.

We had our DD, SIL and GS with us for 9 months when their house had a fire and there was a lot of clearing up going on - we did surely miss them when they went, but there were compensations too and it was good to see them getting back on their feet.

A new situation awaits you all with the forging of changed relationships and new ways of working. But that little lad will be rushing for a cuddle when you see him, and yours will always be his second home, where he feels secure and loved - what a wonderful asset for him!

Seven years wow ! I'm struggling to imagine what that would be like.

DGS is fast becoming a young man rather than a child and I'm sure he has benefited no end from having you and DH such a hugh part of his life.
I'd be surprised if they didn't miss you just as much as you'll miss them. Hopefully they are close enough for regular contact.

Don't let the tears dilute the !!

Thank you "Soutra", that actually made me feel a little teary (which shows perhaps how emotional I feel!!). Beautiful words xx

You have done a wonderful job as a mum providing a haven after a storm and your DD is a lucky lady! I can imagine it will be very quiet (how could it be otherwise?) but you have seen her get back on her feet and the relationship will be ready to move on to another level - more one of equals. I hope they haven't moved too far away so that you will stlll see plenty of them but you deserve some "me time" at last.
The closeness of your relationship with your DGS will last a lifetime.
You deserve the medal of the Highest Order of Gransnet![medal]
We need a medal emoticon, don;t we?