It IS a big change when the last one leaves the nest. Speaking as a single mother, and having only them in my home, I am very close to my girls (not that you have to be a single mother to be close to your kids.) When the first daughter left (both mine left when they married because they went to local CalState colleges and lived at home) I was comforted to know my younger daughter was still with me. When she married I KNEW I'd feel alone.

BUT, I didn't want to go around feeling sorry for myself nor did I want to be a mother hen with my adult girls. So, I tried to turn it into a positive that worked for me. I was focused more on my "independence" and looked at the advantages. My philosophy was and still is, "I can do whatever the hell I want to do, without answering to anyone." It is pretty cool but it's not like I lived on the edge, more of a state of mind type thing.

One of my first "brave" (for me) moves was taking a trip way to the other Coast all by myself. Yep, NYC!!! I look at my first trip there as a beginning of sorts.

TIS