Empty Nest? As A Grandma?

When my kids moved put of the house I had horrible empty nest syndrome. I was blessed to be able to stay home with my kids when they started school. I LOVED it! I volunteered everywhere from Girl Scouts (even managed to become Vista Nueva Service Unit Manager and over see all the Vista Girl Scout Leaders) I was room mom, soccer mom. Basically, if the kid said “Mom we need…” My answer was “Oh I can do that”

My life was busy. All the time. I was probably the happiest I’ve ever been. We had dinner together at the table every night. (We were SO lucky, it was before the Internet!) I enjoyed time with my kids so much. When they moved out it was toooo dang quiet.

If you’ve been around Peanut Butter and Whine for a while, you know that The Husband and I have been retired for several years. Being retired meant I was able to watch Alice from birth till 7 years old. It was like getting do-overs with a kid! It was AMAZING! I didn’t volunteer anywhere. I just hung out with Alice. I taught her sign language as a baby. As she got older I taught her to read, we went to art classes, karate classes, gymnastics. On and on. It was so much fun. This video of Alice reading may be one of my all time favorites!! The book Pajama Time Cracks me up every time.

Real Retirement

After Alice went to school we decided to full on retire. BUT To IDAHO?!? We just couldn’t afford to retire in California. At least not without both of us having to go back to work. (AND neither Selena or Zachary giving me another Grandkid to spoil, teach and babysit).

While The Husband and I are comfortable as long as we don’t go nuts, it does make me wonder if MY kids will ever be able to retire? What about Alice (14) and Olivia (16)? Will they be able to comfortably retire? I guess I’m most worried about Olivia. Alice’s parents created a Custodial Roth IRAs. Smart on their part. Alice will be set!  I wish I had been THAT parent to help mine with a comfortable place to land. Seriously, I wish all parents (MINE too!) set up Custodial Roth IRA’s.

It sounds mean that I’m most worried about the Grands and NOT stressed about MY kids? It’s because age 13 was rough! Like send them to a Lord Of The Flies type island rough. Yes, I’m holding a grudge. (I’m only a tiny bit kidding! They were ROTTEN!)

So, that was basically a long drawn out whine to ask, can you have a second Empty Nest crisis? Cause I’m missing my kids and grandkids MAJORLY right now!!