We have a larger family. My youngest two will turn 18 the year I turn 60 and DH 67. They will graduate highschool just before turning 19 and then most likely attend a junior college next door. I am 47 now but many of my friends are emptynesters or becoming emptynesters within several years. Many of my friends are submerging into new jobs and or hobbies including travel. Anyone else out there who will be raising children at a later age or have been there done that? By the way I also do home education. Some of our children have problems with learning so they might linger a little longer. The ages of our children now are 24 (married), 22 (married), 21 (moved out), 21 (home special ed.) , 20 (college, home on weekends and holidays), 20 (moved out), 20, 14, 13, 13, 11, 9, 5 and 5. (all of the remaining are home)

Did I count right (14)....wow, with that many I don't know how you could be an empty nester until later.

Congrats to you for being able to "make it" with all your children in today's times and to have the ability to do home schooling.

You have a special quality that will be passed throughout your children and enjoyed forever.

I'm 51 and my DH is 56...we are empty nesters and have been for several years now. We do enjoy it and are overwhelmed when everyone comes home to visit at once.

Did I count correctly, 14 kids?

Moonwalk, we were counting at the same time. :lol:

Yes, 14 but not everyone is home any more. About 2/3 of our children came home by adoption. Incase you are wondering about my triplets and twins. LOL

I'm amazed you find time to quilt. You are a rare woman. I'm sure we could learn much from you.

My kids have been gone for several years too. I'm 52 and hubby 53. I became a nanny (grandmother) at 37. That was very hard to come to terms with, not for myself but for my daughter and the choices she made for herself. So at 52 I have five granddaughters ages 15, 6, 4, 2 and 1. Grandkids are lots of fun but very tiring.

I have to find time to quilt to keep my sanity. From the time I was a toddler I have been a compulsive crafter. It actually energizes me. Fortunately DH and the family recognizes that and support me.

I have one grand daughter, 8 months, and two grandsons that are angels. They are all from one son who is now 20 and the choices he made. I never see my grand daughter and I am not sure where she is at right now or her mother. The mother called twice since January if we would take our grand daughter but changed her mind on the last moment both times. I never dreamed how this would all affect me and then the death of my little grandsons. Parenting adult kids has knocked the air out of me. The little ones at home keep me focussed and going.

Well, yes....but this happened a few years ago for us.

We had 2 families....2 sons then 11 years later 2 daughters.

We were married 37 years before our nest emptied....that made me 57 and hubby was 60. So we have been there.

We planned when they were gone to really down-size...and went to a condo. We have enjoyed condo living ever since. We are now 77 and 80. Lots of good memories and some that are not so good, but we learn to take the bad along with the good!

June in Cincinnati

I know exactly what you mean, my daughter was 17 when my granddaughter was born. They lived at home, (with me, hubby and her two sisters) until granddaughter was 4 1/2. My daughter then left with her daughter and we haven't been able to see her since, 10 1/2 years. It was very hard on the family, it felt like someone had died. My other daughter has the four daughters and they keep me (Nanny) and Papa busy when we get to see them, which is often. They live a little over an hour away, just far enough that it has to be a planned trip. I keep trying to talk my husband into moving next door. Don't you know my Son-in-law would just love that. :D

We loved being emptynesters. Beware they sometimes come back!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm 53 and my hubby is 61....both of our children are still at home (21 and 22), attending local schools. So they will be here for a few more years.....

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????

We would have been empty nesters a long time ago, but our 2nd child is handicapped and is still with us at age 43...

It's amazing that when you get that kind of diagnosis that it seems to be the end of the world.... but you muddle through the years and then....

it seems impossible but one day you realize what a BLESSING it has been...
she helps her dad (67 and a cardiac patient) out in the yard and shop, she helps me (fibro and diabetic)....

(and yes, we have made 'arrangements' for when we are gone)..

so we will never be empty around here LOL

Had my last child, first girl!, at 42. She is 9 months old and has an 18 month old brother! This is the first time I felt like I didn't want another! We have 7; I am 42, hubby is 48. We will retire before the babies are raised!

Every time I think we are empty nesters someone comes back. Our youngest is now back home. We did enjoy it while it lasted and really hope him and his wife can find jobs so they can move out again. We raised our 3 boys and then 2 grandsons. I am 65 and DH is 63. We love them all but we really need to rest. LOL

I have 2 children of my own (40 & 33) and my husband has two children (40 & 38) - we have been empty nesters since my daughter went to college which was about 13 years ago. However, we have had a 17 year old grandson live with us for almost a year (didn't like our rules and wanted to go back to OK.) and we now have a 10 yr. old granddaughter living with us since this past Feb. I will be 65 this year - my husband just retired - and I feel more tied down now than ever. But you do what you have to do!!! Maybe these kids mother will get her act together and raise her children without lots of drama and men!

I have four living children they have all moved out then moved back in then out. About 5 years ago my youngest was homeless so I let her move back in. She has always helped with my mother & me. We finally moved into a home that is handicapped for my mother but she passed away before we could get her here. She always said she would never live with any of us, & she didn't. I also have had grandchildren move in & out & I babysit with them when I am not driving a school bus. Really am lost when there is not anyone around. I have been divorced for forty years. But love to sew & quilt for everyone.

may I ask, as long as you do home schooling have you taught any of your children sewing or quilting? They dont do home ec in schools anymore, and sewing is just a basic thing to know for anyone.

I had my kids while young as well -- my youngest is starting school tomorrow - I am 31. I just wanted to comment that it is very sad that you are willing to see your dgd and are unable. I rarely ask for help with my kids - but both my mother and mother-in-law are unwilling to watch them for me even for brief periods. They complain that they never get to see the kids - but when I ask if they can watch them for a couple hours so hubby and I can have a date they suddenly have other plans (I only ask once a year or so). Hubby has a job interview in another state, I called my mil and told her I really NEED some help with the kids for a few days so we could go check things out -- her reply "that's interesting"
I hope your dgd's mother realizes what a blessing she has in grandparents for her daughter!

NOTHING is wrong with you. We will never be empty nesters..children ages 30, 28, 15 and 15.... I will be 66 when the twins graduate from high school... One grandchild, but in Alaska and we rarely get to see him because of the distance(so sad). Our older children have good, busy lives and I miss not seeing them every day. With no employment we are not able to travel and visit...but will someday!! We raise our children to make them independent adults and when they leave, a piece of my heart breaks each time that I have to say goodbye.

My youngest has just been accepted for cUniversity so he will be leaving, but middle one returns ( for at least a year until he getsmarried. So I feel I am being let down gently( I'm 53) . i also have my mum who's 91 with me so although she isn't able to be much company now it is at least someone to talk to. i have said to myself that i will stay in this house for 3 years while youngsy comes back for holidays and then consider downsizing after he graduates.

My three oldest children learned to hand sew patches together and quilt pre-printed panels that they had sandwiched together when they were about 8, 9, and 11.

All three began their own disappearing nine patch quilt last winter. They got about 2/3's of the way through their tops when spring arrived and we put them away for other projects.

We will finish them this fall/winter! My boys especially love sewing....it's a machine!

we're about to be empty nesters at age 62, but now find my brother age 60, needs a home. It'll be interesting! My kids are nearby.

YUP---me too. We hope to retire however may not be able to afford to.

Our two boys, ages 26 and 22, are still at home but in school and working. They will probably remain so for as long as we live here. It's too expensive for kids to move out on their own and many homes have 2, 3, or 4 generations living in them. Our eldest moved out, but had to have 6 roommates in order to make the rent. He got tired of being the "parent" in the house and moved back home. We plan to retire to the mainland in 2 years or so and they will come with us until they find their direction and go out on their own. I love having them around.

Our family sounds a lot like yours. I'm 49 and our youngest is starting kindergarden this year. Still have 8 at home with us and 3 are out on their own. Ages 24,23,22,20,15, 14,14,13,12,7 and 5. All 11 of ours is Adopted. I don't ever see me and Emptynester....lol

68 when I finally got to keep the empty bedroom ;-)

my oldest starts kindergarten this fall, youngest next year, and i turn 50 in october. hubby and i had 22 years together before kids came along. we will be well into our 60s before kids are off to college. it's strange being an older mom but life is full of good surprises!

I was 31 when I married someone with a 5-year-old son. So I've never had "alone" time. We had 2 other sons of our own when I was 33 and 35. Our youngest started college in 2000, so we basically became empty nesters except for the summer of 2001. He chose to co-op in his field of electrical engineering so he was either working or taking classes in the summers after that. We basically had 3 years with just the two of us. Our oldest son and his wife went off the deep end in many ways, bringing heart break to us. Social services took their 2 children. To prevent their going into foster care, we gained them through the court system in 2004. They are now 12 and 14. When the youngest turns 18 in 6 years, I will be 71 and my husband 74. Having them has certainly prevented us from traveling as we'd planned, but I thank God we have been their lifeline, and they are not in foster care.

Wow, so many large families. I am 63 and have been an empty nester for almost 2 years now. I hace a daughter 33, and my oldest daughterwho would have been 44 this year and my son 25 ( he is biologically my grandson who I adopted and raised) and then I have 2 grandchildren wno are 2 & 4.

We are parents of 10...born every two years from 1981 til 2000, with the last two being three years apart. We have four left at home, and are homeschoolers...have been since the first started school in 1985. Our home seems quiet at times. We are grandparents four times over...all boys(we do have one granddaughter, but because we are not the same "religion" as the mother, we have been forbidden to see her....), and have two sons that just married this year. So five are married, five left to go.

Our home won't be empty until we are both in our early 60's....our last was born when I was 42. We have thought about adopting many times, but I just don't know where we would get the money to pay for it. We adore children, and really miss our big family. Of course, our kids all come home from time to time, but some family issues over the past year has divided us some. Really too bad, as we never saw the problems coming. Maybe in time it will work out and we can all be together again without any stress.

Treasure and enjoy your children while you can.....there is nothing quite like a house full of kids........

if you get into being a foster parent and then adopt it doesn't cost to adopt. And we have family issues to with a couple of our older ones, I hope and pray that someday we can all be together again without the problems also. And yes its great having a Large family. I always wanted a lot of sisters and brothers growing up. my 2 sibs were a lot older than me, so it was like being raised as an only. so I've always wanted a big family.