My oldest is flying the coop today, what was your experience when your child or you left home for the first time?

Dragonfly, my friend, my children are still in the nest. LOL! But I want you to know we are all here for you when you need. :0)

This little piece of advice someone gave me when my first born got her first job and I was crying my eyes out might help you sometime......

She said "you are not letting go, you are simply turning a page. Starting a new chapter. She will still need you." Perfect words I needed to hear.

Well Dragonfly, considering I have no children I can't answer from that perspective. I can only say that I continue to this day seeking my dad's advice on just about everything that I do. We also hang out occasionally which is nice....if I want to go on a weekend or day trip, he's the one I call. Your oldest isn't "leaving" only relocating his/her personal space! :)

There was a 9 year age difference between my oldest and my youngest so the house emptied gradually. By the time the last one left, we were pretty used to it so we had a parade, party and fireworks to celebrate the empty nest. The quiet and cleanliness of the house was something to get used to and I think the dog missed him more than we did. We always knew when he stopped by when we were out, the cupboard was half empty and there were always steaks and other meats missing from the freezer.

I was devastated .. But happy too.  He left for college away from home.  He not only had to get used to going away to college .. But he was also enrolled in Navy ROTC .. So he really had to go through a type of boot camp at the same time.  They shaved his head and marched them all over campus for days.  Really killed me seeing him having to get acclimated with classes, new roommates AND military life all at once.  He was a champ though.  I don't think I could have done it.  Needless to say, I cried for weeks. 

My step-daughter never lived with us so I can't relate there. I can tell about when my older brother moved out. We spent the day packing him up and loading the van. He wasn't the most organized on that move.  He is also one of those people you always know is around. Kind of loud and things need to be his way. (Thankfully he has out grown that!) About the time he got to the stop sign at the end of the street, my mom, my younger brother and I just sat down and gave out simultaneous sighs of relief.  We then looked at each other and reveled in the quiet. There was a lot less stress in the house after that.

The oldest was complicated. Spat the dummy and stormed out. So we were concerned and a bit worried. But it all came good in the finish and after a while (quite a long while, actually) it all worked out.

After that little drama, when the others left home it was a breeze.

Fortunately Mrs Didge has schooled all of them (ah, I mean all of us) in the use of the kitchen and the laundry, so we didn't have them bringing their dirty clothes home for her to wash.

My adult children over stayed. Bye.

Me: Let's just say she said my time was up. I had no choice but to agree. I never went back. She died last year. She was where she wanted to be and I was happy she was happy.

I told our youngest that my job as a parent was to work myself out of a job as a parent by the time he was 18.

I accomplished my goal, but it was still really, really hard to let him go.

It turned out that he felt the same way.  We have a great relationship---it's just a little different now.

My one and only is moving out next weekend and I'm over here trying not to freak out! I have not let him know how anxious I am over this next step in his journey because that's not his problem - it's mine. So, I'm trying to chill while trying not to nag about getting his stuff packed up. OMG. I need a margarita!