Monday 28 March 2016

The kids have left home but I still do this......

Like many of you, I've stood in a supermarket queue, pushing the trolley gently backwards and forwards, just like a pram/pushchair and there's been no child in it just a habit I'd been unable to break. It has been a long time since I've done that, but there are many other parenting things I still do, despite the children having left home.

I often wake early in the morning and on checking the clock, panic and realise no one will be ready for school at in time and as soon as I have the thought I remember I haven't done a 'school run' since the end of 2013.

I still hide chocolate and sweets, in the veg drawer in the fridge, then I forget where I've put them.

I still look at the kids favourite foods in the supermarket, but no longer drop items in the trolley, or cry over the fact they've left home.

I find myself hunting for washing to fill up the machine and still check under the beds in the spare room, I have no idea what I expect to find.

I double check the doors in the spare room to ensure they're closed and locked before going out, despite the kids not being there to 'forget' they've opened them.

I check the front gate is closed, just in case the kids who are no longer here have forgotten to close it behind them so the dog doesn't escape.

I call out for the kids to help me move an item of furniture or come and rescue me as I attempt to turn the mattress on our bed, forgetting that they won't come running to my aid.

I still spend hours looking for the remote control in the day, or the land line or the charger for my phone.

I call the dog by the children's names, one by one.

I say 'NO' aloud when I receive a message from the youngest asking for more pocket money for school, followed by a stream of messages from him begging, till I cave in.

I stalk/check their Facebook, twitter, instagram daily to make sure I haven't missed anything.

I smile to myself when they like the comments or photo's I've left for them on social media and I can see the expression on their faces and hear the tone in their voices 'mummmmm'


16 comments:

  1. aw I still go to buy colouring books or little toys for DD before remembering shes 17 now and not 3 anymore! they grow up so fast #TweensTeensBeyond.

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    1. they sure do, but sometimes they still appreciate a little treat

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  2. Some mornings I still wonder if we're running late when I see kids walking past on their way to school, and I've been known to worry about if my gap-year teen has remembered her homework! I presume sometime I'll break these habits but I wonder how long it takes ...

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    1. well for me it's been almost 3 years and i'm still rocking the trolley

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  3. We must surely all do this in some way or another. Maybe I need to get a dog, otherwise I'll be talking to myself! Thanks for sharing with #TweensTeensBeyond Nicky

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    1. god no, don't get a dog, you'll end up talking to them and getting upset when they don't reply lol

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  4. This is so lovely! They might be thousands of miles away and all grown up, but you're still a mum and they're still your babies :)

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  5. I am preparing for my eldest to leave home this year, all going well with the A'levels and it is going to be so strange. There are moments when I think, yes it is time, but as I sit here now typing waiting to hear his key in the door I know I will miss him really. Thanks for joining us again. #TweensTeensBeyond

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    1. the youngest is moving back in with this over the summer as he finishes school and prepares to move on

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  6. This is just lovely. You are still a Mum, but in different ways. This shows that some feelings never leave you. Thanks you so much for sharing it with us at #TweensTeensBeyond

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    1. thank you, but as soon as they come home i'm moaning about them

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  7. I am looking forward to the day when I have to hunt around for washing

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    1. no you won't, it gets annoying waiting a week to wash a favourite top lol

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