Me 54, WH 57, 25yo DD, 23yo DS. DD#1 1998 followed by 1 year of blatant denialDD#2 2004 followed by 6 YEARS OF TT. Do I win for the longest TT on this site? Divorced and so very happy!

I'm so sad. A new beginning that gives me a lump in my throat.

I've been divorced for 4 years. But we did nesting for 3 years which prolonged the selling of the house. After 3 years of nesting my son (younger of the 2) moved away to college and my daughter 21yo moved out and got her own place. That was in September. Then in October the dog we all had together for 13.5 years died of a brain tumor.

We were supposed to put the house we owned together on the market (in September) but my ex felt it was too much loss at once and we postponed it. We just got it on the market last month and it sold. Now the closing date is 8/31 and I can't stop crying.

When we moved in my daughter was 2 years and 3 months and I was 8 months pregnant for my son. Now she is 21yo and my son just started his sophomore year at college. I remember every birthday party, breakfast, soccer game, dance - everything in every room.

On top of everything my mom was just put into hospice.

I can't stop crying. I miss living in that house so much. I miss living with the kids. I'm having a harder time than I ever thought saying goodbye to that way of life in that wonderful house.

When people talk about a lump in the throat, now I know exactly what that is because I feel it. I'm beyond sad. I hope I never have a head injury because I never want to lose those memories.

9 comments posted: Friday, August 28th, 2020

Dating someone with young kids when you are empty nesting

I'm recently out of a 2-year relationship and dipping my toe into dating even though covid is making it difficult. I'm 50 and I prefer to date a few years older or younger. I don't like big age differences one way or the other. What I'm running up against is that men who are 48 or 49 tend to have such young children.

I had mine at 29 and 31 and I'm finally empty nesting. I put everything into raising them and now I want to enjoy the freedom that I have. These guys who have kids about 10 years old are having a kid at home every other week for about 8 more years. They always tell me that they are free to date every other week. But I'm not sure if I want to date someone that only can see me every other week.

Sometimes I think I should loosen up on this simply because the pool of men to choose from starts shrinking. I'm just curious as to how other people feel about this.

Also, to add, I have two good friends who married men with younger children but both of them had no children of their own. They don't seem to mind it nearly as much as I would. I guess because they're not worn out on it.

16 comments posted: Monday, June 8th, 2020

Good realistic fiction or historical fiction?

Sometimes I feel like not liking fantasy limits my choices so much. I've just never been into it.

I do like thrillers but not the series. I like stand alone ones and not cop oriented.

Do you remember anything you just loved? Loved the writing and the story and didn't want it to end?

Part of my new beginnings is to read. My husband felt like reading was only for once one has accomplished much and has engaged in physical activity. He didn't believe in reading in the daytime, especially is the weather is good.

I want get back to my old self when reading was a huge part of who I was.

Now I just want something terrific to read.

22 comments posted: Wednesday, October 14th, 2015