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.