Friday, July 23, 2010

Toddlers, Teens and Empty Nests

Our days of being full-time parents are dwindling.  Mitch plans to return to FHSU on August 16th so that he has some time to job hunt before classes start.  Amanda will also be heading to school - her first year at KSU - a week early to participate in sorority rush.  We are down to twenty-two days of having them both at home.  Some moments I'm weepy, especially when I encounter something that reminds me of their toddler and grade-school years, and some moments I'm pondering how much extra we would have to pay to send them now!  Below are some fun quotes and proverbs that cover both of those extremes in raising teenagers.

Little children, headache; big children, heartache. ~Italian Proverb

Small children disturb your sleep, big children your life. ~Yiddish Proverb

If you want to recapture your youth, just cut off his allowance. ~Al Bernstein


The best way to keep children at home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant, and let the air out of the tires. ~Dorothy Parker

Never lend your car to anyone to whom you have given birth. ~Erma Bombeck

Few things are more satisfying than seeing your children have teenagers of their own. ~Doug Larson



Mother Nature is providential. She gives us twelve years to develop a love for our children before turning them into teenagers. ~William Galvin

When mothers talk about the depression of the empty nest, they're not mourning the passing of all those wet towels on the floor, or the music that numbs your teeth, or even the bottle of capless shampoo dribbling down the shower drain. They're upset because they've gone from supervisor of a child's life to a spectator. It's like being the vice president of the United States.  - Erma Bombeck
Now....on to the next stage.

4 comments:

  1. Those are all great quotes! Thanks for sharing.

    I hope that the transition is a smooth one for your family!

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  2. It's so hard watching them leave the nest, but it's one of those "gotta do" things I guess. It seems that just about the time we start liking them for who they've become, pffftttt.... there they go!

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  3. Your quotes are so on target. I especially love re-visiting the writing of Erma Bombeck.

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  4. The Italian proverb rings 100% true in our household :)

    You are about one year ahead of us -- our youngest will be as senior in high school this year (although she is rarely home as it is, I am not sure there will be much of a difference when she goes away to school)

    I hope that there are not too many tearful days ahead - and that the empty nest proves to be a lot of fun for both you!

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