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After 24 Years.....I'm Off The Clock

By
Real Estate Agent with Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 BRE# 01494165

 

 

It has finally happened...after 24 years. My youngest child left the house under his own power....well, our power, a Toyota Truck. I am no longer responsible for getting ANY child to school. No more carpool!

It's been a long time since the morning was completely my own (although I did get up out of habit and try to make him breakfast).

My husband and I raised 5 children. My oldest began preschool at about 2 years old. That was 24 years ago. Since then, I've been involved in some form of child-transportation. My step-kids went to school near their mom (she worked at the school) so often I would drop one of mine here and then hoof it 15 miles up the freeway to drop them off...and reverse it in the afternoon.

The past couple years has been a shorter commute...but still by the time I picked up the other boys, it was still about 45 minutes each morning.

Of course it's rewarding to pick up teen-aged boys in the morning! :) For my effort I was greeted with a series of grunts and growls depending on the question and/or the perceived prying. "How was the game last night? Did you guys win?" ...... "grunt, growl, NO..." Oops :)

This morning, I'm sitting at the coffee table (such a gorgeous sunrise that I brought my laptop out of the office to enjoy it). I'm having my second cup of coffee in my PJs and enjoying the quiet. Ah.....finally, I'm done. 24 years after I started!

Comments(23)

Lisa Hicks
Hoang Realty - Augusta, ME
Serving Central and Southern Maine

Congrats!  I hope your peace and quiet lasts longer than mine did.  My "baby" got her license 6 months ago and I was LOVING IT!  Then, last month, during a basketball game, she tore the ACL in her right knee.  Guess what...I'm back to carpooling.  :(  It wouldn't have bothered me so much if I hadn't had a taste of "freedom!"

Jan 30, 2012 03:10 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Enjoy your new sense of freedom and independence.  After 24 years of helping get the kids at home where they are needed, fed and so forth, you deserve it. 

Jan 30, 2012 03:24 AM
Peggy Hughes/pha logistix, inc.
pha logistix inc - San Francisco, CA
SF NYC LA

Way to go Karen... take the time to enjoy your hard-earned and well-deserved "me" time!!

Jan 30, 2012 03:46 AM
Pam Miller
Realty Associates - Conroe, TX
Broker Associate - Water Crest on Lake Conroe

Karen - Job well done, Mom!  I know exactly how you feel....a little lost but a little happy. 

Jan 30, 2012 03:57 AM
Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

Karen, my daughter is a freshman in college and my son a senior in high school. Next year, both will be in college. I am pouring myself into my work because I know I'll miss them both. I'm still a few years from being entirely an empty nest. It's hard to envision.

Jan 30, 2012 04:21 AM
Victor Zuniga
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services California Properties - San Diego, CA

Thought I have no doubt that you will miss your babies it must feel so good to just sit and enjoy your first morning without any kids in the house. Any remodeling plans yet?

Jan 30, 2012 04:30 AM
Margaret Goss
@Properties - Winnetka, IL
Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate

Congrats on a job well done.  Both of my kids moved out last summer - ahhhh!

Jan 30, 2012 05:11 AM
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

Amy: It's an odd feeling...nice, but odd

Hannah: Yes, they do know it all....thank heavens, right? Means I could head to the beach. lol

Lucille: I'm not completely there yet...my son's a sophmore in high school, and my daughter is back home before grad school...but loving the morning without a run to school

Lisa: Oh shoot....poor thing, I mean YOU :)

Chris Ann: I do, don't I :)

Peggy: It was a great morning....loved it.

Pam: Thanks, that's it...unstructured, but relaxed. Liking this

Tammie: It's a bitter sweet thing when they go to college. But I've had 4 of the 5 fly the nest, and the next stage is pretty nice also. I now have a great daughter-in-law and my daughter has a sweet new girlfriend, all good. Just extra young people to enjoy

Victor: I'd love to remodel, but he will be home at 3pm, so that might be premature. LOL

Jan 30, 2012 05:13 AM
Charlie Ragonesi
AllMountainRealty.com - Big Canoe, GA
Homes - Big Canoe, Jasper, North Georgia Pros

Hey Karen congrats. When mine left I said he is off the payroll. But as i am sure it is for you , he is not oout of your heart and thoughts. I too enjoy that second cup in the am

Jan 30, 2012 05:22 AM
Sue Ellett
Synergy Property Group | Spyglass Realty - Austin, TX
Austin, TX, Lake Travis, Dripping Springs

Congratulations, Karen.   Just getting one to college was quite something for me (in his second year), so my hat is off to you for successfully raising five!

Jan 30, 2012 06:00 AM
Michele Sims
Affinity Real Estate, LLC - Alamogordo, NM

Enjoy Karen, you deserve it! I am waiting for my time too . . . my son left for college in 2004 and I enjoyed about 2 1/2 years of my time . . . but now we are raising our grandson who just turned 5 (he has been with us since he was 3 months old) so I guess I have another 13 plus years till I have that me time again!  

Jan 30, 2012 06:07 AM
Steven Cook
No Longer Processing Mortgages. - Tacoma, WA

Karen - congratulations on your move out of the carpool program!  Enjoy that extra time, by doing something for yourself, that will make things even better!

Jan 30, 2012 07:01 AM
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

Margaret: I had a couple of cups of coffee (not just one), I blogged and hit email, and then went for my run. Heaven

Charlie: Mine aren't off the payroll either...certainly not the 16 year old, but really none of them yet. LOL

Sue: I'm so proud of my kids...they are just great people. Forging their own lives...and keeping  momma in mind.

Michele: Oh good for you....it must have been a surprise to start over, but clearly you are doing a great thing. I am lookiing forward to grandchildren, but hopefully not from my own home.

Steven: Just having my coffee in a ceramic mug instead of travel plastic is a start. :)

Jan 30, 2012 07:23 AM
Francine Viola
Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty, Olympia WA - Olympia, WA
REALTOR®, In Tune with your Real Estate Needs

You have children this old?!  No way!  You must be living right! :-)  Congrats on getting your mornings and afternoons back.

Jan 30, 2012 09:20 AM
Jennifer Prestwich
Henderson, Thornton, Broomfield and Westminster - Henderson, CO
Madison & Co Properties

Wow, Karen, that does sound pretty heavenly.... But I am sure that it is a little awkward at the same time!  As evidenced by your getting up to make him breakfast, lol... :)

Jan 30, 2012 12:11 PM
Chris and Maria Jeantet
Shasta Living Real Estate - Redding, CA
Top Realtors in Redding CA

Good for you Karen, must feel GREAT! We're just getting started, pray for us, lol!

Jan 30, 2012 02:06 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

WooHoo!  I feel your excitement, Karen!  I have one left in college and I'll be done!  I have to say, I was a sad sack for awhile when the last one left the nest to go off to college.  I realized that I did miss those carpooling, sporting event, school involvement days but, now...ahhh...those 2-cup-of-coffee days are fantabulous!

Jan 30, 2012 03:18 PM
Susan Goulding
Crown Key Realty, Inc; Tracy & Mountain House Sales and Property Management - Tracy, CA
Northern CA - Tracy & Mountain House Real Estate

Karen - as the mother of 5 I feel you pain, joy and freedom.  This year for the first time in 25 years I didn't have a child to take or pick up (My daughter a freshman can ride to school with her Senior brother.)   However lucky me, I get to go back to carpooling next year after a year of freedom. What a rude awakening that will be.

I'm still waiting for the quiet home to myself, as my 23 year old moved back home after graduating college, and now is home as much as I am.

 

Jan 30, 2012 04:02 PM
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

Francine: Oh yes, my oldest ia 26 and my youngest is 16...with a few scattered in between :)

Jennifer: So true. I don't even remember the older two getting themselves up and out the door in high school. Guess the oldest needs to be more self sufficient so we can get the younger ones to school.

Chris/Maria: Everyone tells you it goes by fast, and it seems like that once you're done. So enjoy

Debe: I miss them too....and if I could go back for awhile, I would. But the key to life is embracing where we are....right?

Susan: My daughter-in-law lived with us for a bit before the wedding, after college and while my son was away at law school. My daughter is here after college this year for her "gap" year. So....they do move back and forth.

Jan 31, 2012 02:07 AM
Jim Hale
ACTIONAGENTS.NET - Eugene, OR
Eugene Oregon's Best Home Search Website

Done with you driving them? Maybe.  Done with them "driving" you? Probably not.

Jan 31, 2012 06:26 AM