I really enjoying reading everyones stories. Thank you. Keep posting please.

Last child left home 10 years ago yesterday. Grandson left home yesterday. I was 52 the first time, 62 this time!

I have had custody of my first grandson since he was a baby. He is now 11 and I am 56. So I will be 62 when he graduates from high school, even older before he is done with college. But, I am loving it, he keeps me young.

I wanted to have my kids young so I'd still be young enough to enjoy traveling and doing when the kids leave. I was 23 before having the first one, 4 years later then I wanted but I had no control over that! After the second child, 18 months later, I called it quits on having kids. The youngest started college at age 17 so I was 42 with no kids at home.

My husband (57) and I (50) keep young raising our family! We have 6 grown kids, 31,29,27,26,24,22 all in college or raising families of their own and our 6 youngest, still at home, are 14, 12, 11, 7, 5 and 4.

We home school them all and other than sleeping very soundly at night I feel like I did in my 30's. 5 of the youngest 6 are adopted and if I were younger I'd adopt even more.

Our children are the greatest blessings we have ever been given. We thank God for them. He selected each and everyone of them for us! (Bio and adopted!)

Wow, I'm amazed at the number of folks with such large families. You are all inspiring.

We didn't have children until later that "normal" - I was 36 when my first son was born and 38 six days before the 2nd one arrived. That's puts me at 56 before #2 leaves for college and 60 when he graduates. Hopefully, things for college grads will be better by then!!

Gee, after reading some of these entries I have mixed emotions....I have 3 girls,42, 38 and almost 30 ! the older girls were a product of 1st marriage and the younger one from 2nd marriage that ended in 1993. The older girls left for college, found husbands and never came back home, which wasn't traumatic because i still had a child at home, playing soccer, in school plays, etc.....after my divorce in 1993 and it was just the 2 of us I coped fine, UNTIL, UNTIL she left to go to college in 2000! I really thought I was going to die of a broken heart ! By 2000 I had some grandkids but not living close to them and not really a part of their lives until it was gift time.

Also in 2000 I was fired from a job that I had held for 16 years from a very well known large "Christian"oriented company....which was an emotional blow in itself, which is another story on its own !

My oldest girl has 2 teenage boys and they live over 700 miles away, plus she has a daughter that she gave up for adoption and has since re-united with her; my middle girl has 2 children and I'm somewhat involved in their lives since we live in the same town. My youngest, who is almost 30, has a rich exciting career and i don't see children in her future....maybe a marriage but only grand cats !

To answer the original question, I became an empty nester when i was 53 and I don't think it has been fun. I like "mothering", it is what God destined us women to be and I feel like I haven't fulfilled my duty.

God knew he was sending those children to a very special family, Patchesnposies. Congrats to you and you DH!

I am just thrilled our kiddos live close by, one even within walking distance. Still love having the house full of friends and family on weekends and holidays. I sure enjoy all the travel just the two of us are able to do now.

I'll be 58 when my last child graduates. Since my DH passed away this spring, it'll be very hard when she flies the nest, but it's what she's destined to do and I'll be there cheering her on.

I have a 20 year old son at home. I am almost 60. Cannot stand the thought of being an empty nester! What is wrong with me????