One Child Left at Home

My second child started college in August. The oldest is a junior in collegeand the youngest is a sophomore in high school. With two kids away from home, the question I'm being asked most often these days is, "How does it feel to only have one child at home?" This is what I wrote in response:

How It Feels To Only Have One Child Left At Home

The towels in the bathroom last all week.

The bathroom counter is clear of contact lens clutter.

You don't have to fight five brands of shampoo, conditioner, and three shavers in the shower.

You can get in the shower without waiting in line.

Your septic system gets a rest.

The clothes hamper doesn't fill up in one day.

You're not folding clothes constantly.

You stop feeling so much like a maid.

A gallon of milk lasts more than 2 days.

The orange juice hangs around and bags of chips get stale.

You buy a 5-biscuit can of biscuits instead of a 10-biscuit can to make your Sunday morning sweet rolls, and even that is too much.

You pull a few ears of corn for supper instead of a half bushel.

The dishwasher is not full at the end of the day.

Your grocery bill goes down about $25.

The bananas rot before you can use them.

You don't have to leave a light on when you go to bed at 11:00.

The car has gas in it.

You have a car.

The radio stays on your middle-of-the-road talk station.

The radio doesn't come on playing at 500 decibels.

You have a spare bedroom for the first time in about 17 years.

You can get on the phone.

The phone rings and it might actually be for you.

You can get on the computer.

You get on the computer and your day is made when you have an e-mail message from each one, or they send an instant message saying, "Will you accept a message from....?"

Take note of these differences early on because they soon become routine to you. And yes, I know the kids who've left home will probably be back, not just for vacations and breaks, but moving back home for a season in their lives. There seems to be a revolving door in many homes, which is okay up to a point. Different ground rules need to be established for relating to your adult children as adults - complete with the responsibilities and respect, on both ends, that that implies. Laying those ground rules up front seems to be a key for making it work. That can be a trying and difficult time, too, but there are families who make it work.

If you're interested, there is more information about:
The most important event of all time and
The most important Book of all time.

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Contributed by Melodie Davis from her weekly columnANOTHER WAY (http://www.thirdway.com/aw/).For information on using Another Way in a local newspaper, contact:ANOTHER WAY, 1251 Virginia Ave., Harrisonburg, VA 22801-2497; or call1-800-999-3534; fax at 540-434-5556; or email me at:Melodie@mennomedia.org