Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire How hard was it for you parents when your kids left for college or moved out?

Hatari, my dad told me about 50 years ago, that his primary job as a parent, was to prepare his children for adult life. I think he did a fine job. All of my many brothers and sisters would pass your check list just fine, and we all have gone on to have productive, happy lives.
You should be proud of that girl.

When our son left for college, I don't think he was 20 miles down the road before we had his room emptied and repainted it. Turned it into an office. He ended up with a room in the basement for when he did come home . . .

Our daughter was going to be the hard one as she and my bride are/were very close. Bride was really NOT looking forward to her leaving, so we set up a week + long vacation for just the two of us to the Richmond, VA and Colonial Williamsburg area. Took her mind off the empty nest.

We got along fine with both the kids. Both of them were good kids and didn't cause much strife for us as far as getting into trouble . . . it was just time for them to continue to grow up and be on their own.

Thank you, I appreciate that. I agree with your dad, especially because he sounds like my dad.

OK, he's right!!

IMHO, my greatest accomplishment, as a father, was watching my two sons leave home and take on the world on their terms and with confidence.

you give them roots so that they may grow wings.


used to worry about empty nest syndrome a fair bit, raising, recreating and providing for our kids the last 20 years or so took up a huge chunk of life.

but we're enjoying the time together just me and mom, still have a 16 year old at home that loves to hang with us. But he works so his time with us is limited due to his working.

we worked hard a long time ago and are enjoying the fruits of that now. It's so easy with just the two of us, fix a meal, eat it out of the skillet, two forks to wash. lol

and my wife she's damned fine company, love having our kids when they're with us, but I'm fine with just mom and me

My parents had no problems with the three of us when we headed off to school and my wife and I had no problems when our two son's did the same. Still have #3 son to go in a couple of years. I truly believe it is good for all and best when the kids are a fair bit away so they cannot readily come home, see local friends, etc. Time to grow for all.

The time comes when every boy must spread his wings and fly, just as the time come when every girl must spread her legs and leave. It's the nature of the beast.

I can still hear my dad saying (when I was 18 and a few months), "Son, you know I love you but you have to get the hell out of this house."

He was right.

I am in the same boat as the OP. My only child (son) will be a HS senior this fall and we are out looking at colleges now. It will be tough on me when he leaves but it will be worse for his mother. The saddest thing is that if he wants a good job in the area that he is interested in he will have to move far from home.

kids hell,i was estatic when the MIL moved out