We are barely into the empty nest stage of our lives, and we have adjusted quite nicely. You may think that we had been empty nesters when our youngest, Tayden, left for college. However, like many our age, when the youngest left for college, the oldest two were home, in the post-college time frame. I was fine with that. I liked the activity around the house. I was afraid of the big, empty spaces. Now, it’s the new normal. In fact we have adjusted so well in the last couple months, we have developed some bad habits that are tough to reign in when a kid happens to be home. 

First, we have stopped closing doors. At all. After work, I use the bathroom and change into comfortable clothes, all without closing a door. Who’s going to see me? The dogs? They let me know that they don’t care. Once, when Tayden was home for a weekend, I was sitting on the toilet, playing sudoku, with the door wide open when I heard him bounding down the stairs. In a panic, I quickly abandoned my doings, stood up (always a bad idea in that position), and closed the door, before resuming my doings. 

There is sooooo much space in the dishwasher. I can put anything in there. Previously, I rarely could fit a mixing bowl in the dishwasher. Last night, I had three of them in there. We now use mixing bowls as salad bowls. Why not? I won’t have to hand wash them just because the dishwasher is already full. In fact, I am usually trying to fill up that space so I can run it before the dirty dishes start to smell. 

We don’t have much trash. We forgot to take the can down to the curb a couple weeks ago, and it wasn’t a big deal. We can just take it next week, when it will still be half empty. We are now half empty type of people, but it’s a good thing. 

I can use the washer whenever I want. I will not find a load of clothes left in the washer for a questionable amount of time, smelling a bit musty. Just the other day, I decided that the clothes I was wearing should go in the laundry with the current load. I just stripped down and tossed them in. Then I meandered to my room naked, and jumped in the shower. This might have been something I had done before, if it were the wee hours of the morning, but there was always some risk involved. This leads to the next bad habit. 

We walk around in various states of undress. Why not? Vacuum in my underwear? Sure. Vacuum without underwear. Fine. Just don’t let the dogs out like that because one of them will wander off for sure. 

We engage in activities that we want to do. We rarely need to work around any schedule but our own (until coaching season starts). Cook dinner, don’t cook dinner (mostly don’t cook)? Either.  Boat ride after work with a coworker (and the neighborhood eagle)? Sure. Take a nap on the couch with the dogs? Why not?

SING at the top of my lungs while doing chores. A necessity. Underwear vacuum karaoke is a thing. 

I have warned the kids that they NEED to let us know when they are coming home. In fact, they should call about ten minutes before arrival. It’s hard to unsee some things. And there is way WAY too much to see around here. 

There are things about the empty house I don’t like. I miss the joking and activity that goes with a full house. The dogs miss the kids too, but since the dogs are now aged 15 and 14, they also enjoy the long stretches of time to sleep. Since the natural order of things leads to the empty house, I will find the things I like about it, and hug the kids longer when they return. Somehow, I have learned to enjoy their absence and their presence. Just call before entering, or the things you see are on you! Have a great week everyone!