A Big Day for me!

[TheBoatman]

I'm taking my last off-spring to uni in Liverpool today. That will be 3 down and no more to go.

I'm both happy and sad,

Happy because I managed to raise 3 kids that are brighter than I am, happy because they all put in so much work to get there, happy because despite peer presssures they all seem to be honest and well balanced, but sad because it is another milestone in mine and SWMBO's lives, the house is going to seem empty now with none of their friends popping in, playing music, eating me out of house and home, sleep overs when there seems to be bodies in every nook and cranny. I will miss the banter with these kids, most of whom I will never see again.

On the plus side the 24 hour interest free never to be repaid banking service has now been formalised into a one off monthly payment (never to be repaid) and the 24 hour taxi service is finished.

Now all I have to do is change the door locks or better still addresses<s>

After 27 years of having kids about the place, its all finished.

signed
One smiling,sad dad!

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[BrendanS]

Re: Ha Ha!

What an optimist you are! <g>

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[Cotillion]

After sending two already you should know that said offspring will be back at the weekend with an empty belly and a full bag of dirty washing. And of course you will be very pleased to see them.

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[Dougie_the_Mate]

Dear Boatman

Are you in for a surprise. The one accurate thing you have predicted is the never to be repaid loans and ex-gratia payments, which do not really stop for some time yet.

Having had 5 through the same experience, it has occurred to me recently that rather than a well kept, but elderly Centaur, I might have been master of a new Hallberg Rassy or other such classy and exotic vessel, had we not had the 'misfortune 'to have had brighter weans than ourselves.

It is going on to 13 years since the first-born set off for St. Andrews and we are still paying for a resident of Alabama, who also had the impertinence to be a better golfer than me and acquire a scholarship to the States.

I have a friend who recently had an impromptu party, and when asked for the reason his reply was that his children were now self-feeders. How I long for that day.



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[ChrisE]

Well done, as others have said the paying doesn't stop but there are compensations. Like:

1. Son-in-law now buys the drinks
2. Daughters send me presents
3. Grandchildren who you can hand back when you are fed up with them.
4. Liz and I now act like students again, you know, up all night drinking and having no money.

Positively the best period of our lives.

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[MASSIVE_PI]

In our family, and it might even be big enough to be statistically valid, we've found that you can't get rid of anyone. Pattern is: they grow up, leave home, get married, have kids, get divorced, move back home again with kids. So, after a brief lull you get an even bigger family. Awesome. Your three could be at least 9 in no time. How cool is that!

Happy times.

MASSIVE

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[robp]

Congratulations and comiserations! But it isn't really the end of anything at all. Just new experiences with your offspring. We just bought an apartment for the oldest. I do hope to continue receiving rent to cover some of the expense...Ahem! Then we had a late one, who at 11 makes me feel very young and very old all within the space of about 10 minutes. So I can now experience both ends of the scale on the same day.

Go on you know it makes sense!

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[Guest]

I feel lost sometimes

I divorced my UK wife and kids stayed with her - I was in Baltic and they were still in school etc.
Now they are older - oldest (21) is very successfully employed and youngest (18) is still College etc.

I miss them for all their good and bad habits - only getting to see them short periods maybe 2 -3 times per year. But even so - I am very proud of what they are now and what they have done etc.

My 'new' wife thinks the world of them and they seem to like her - so all is not lost.

I think the trick is to watch from afar - not interfere, be proud and support when THEY ask / need ....... even back-door help that they are not aware of is best - so they still feel it is THEIR efforts etc.

Enjoy the freedom, more time on boat...... etc. etc. You've earned it both of you - kids and parents.


<hr width=100% size=1>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/

 

[Dougie_the_Mate]

As Chris says there are compensations and offers 2 of the better ones

2. Daughters send me presents
3. Grandchildren who you can hand back when you are fed up with them.

Are we alone in discovering that when we visit our offspring, we are visitors and behave accordingly, waiting to be asked if we would like a drink etc.. but when they visit us, they are coming home and simply settle back into the old routines of eating like locusts and finding our hidden supplies of Irn Bru and the better wines.


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[kds]

I am sure that one of the things you learned over the past 27 years, is that the kids will always suprise you - look forward to it.
The bit that hacks me off is that they all became good sailors - and then moved away. So here i am, finished building a new boat and have to sail it single-handed.
Must admit that the girls never asked for extra money - and the boys never stopped.
Stay cool !
Ken

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[ChrisE]

You are not alone

We now label wine in rack, yours and ours. We have girls, who I think, are better at coping for themselves, it is only son-in-law that asks for money!

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[Jeremy_W]

>>> After sending two already you should know that said offspring will be back at the weekend with an empty belly and a full bag of dirty washing.

From Liverpool to Kent? They'd be better off finding the pub/ launderette!

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[BlueSkyNick]

You forgot to mention that you can play with the grandchildren's toys - bubble machines, for example.

<hr width=100% size=1>Sex is like sailing - its not the size of the boat, but the motion of the ocean which matters.

 

[ChrisE]

Ah yes, forgot about that. Mind you I'm a dab hand at making crossbows, swords, dressing up clothes, replacing batteries in gizmos, mending gizmos and, of course, telling them to turn the sound off their gameboys (have you ever heard such an annoying noise?)

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[FullCircle]

Well,
Lynn and I live together with none of the kids (16,17,19) now. So we have bought a Sun Odyssey 35 without the third cabin.
Two effects really:-
1) cant have all of them on the boat (or girlfriends/boyfriends) at the same time, so can devote real time when they join us for the weekend
2) as there is very little in the kitty they wont ask for extravagant stuff which we have no pleasure in refusing.

Look forward to at least 2 off to uni, and some years down the line perhaps kids kids.

Enjoy it all, whatever the situation as we only get to do it once.......


Jim & Lynn

<hr width=100% size=1>Our engine will never wear out - it only runs for 5 mins before packing it in again.

 

[TheBoatman]

Re: A Big Day for me Part 2

Well I eventually got there despite the M25 / M1 / M6, got her installed in her new room. I never realised how many accoutrements a girl needs. All was going well until it came to part company where apon both SWMBO and number 3 daughter collapsed into tears.

The first return 100 miles was done in complete silence?

It all got to much for SWMBO who first sent a text message and when no answer was received, then phoned, with no answer.

Later we had a call from number 2 daughter (in London) to say number 3 had phoned her saying she was OK but couldn't talk for a couple of days.

Don't you just luv 'em.

Seems to me that shes off and running.

Peter.

BTW
I had to relent this morning, so I sent her a text message "hiya sprat, daddy luvs ya"
Yet to receive a reply. Have to go the Bank Manager is on the blower!

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[beancounter]

Re: A Big Day for me Part 2

"I never realised how many accoutrements a girl needs. "

Just taken the beancounterette back to Edinburgh to start her second year. She now has so many accoutrements that there would not have been room for in the car - fortunately she flew up a couple of days earlier, leaving dad following with the baggage cart...

Take pride in their accomplishments, and enjoy this new phase of your lives - we certainly have.

cheers

John

<hr width=100% size=1>Fabricati Diem, punc

 

[StugeronSteve]

Re: A Big Day for me Part 2

"I never realised how many accoutrements a girl needs. "

The girl isn't going for a year or two yet, but I am well aware how many accoutrements a boy needs.

The pay load for the trip back to Uni (for Y3), last Saturday, included:
2 x DJing decks, mixer etc.
TV
Stereo
Laptop
Playstation or Gameboy, or whatever the thing is
Acoustic guitar
Electric guitar, amp etc
Sailing kit
Wet suit
Walking kit
Unbelievable quantity of CD, DVD, VHS tapes and vinyl records
Plus clothes, bedding and other boring essentials.

Couldn't find space on this trip for body board and golf clubs, much to son's disgust.

I have no idea where the time for any work comes from, but he must be doing some looking at his Y2 results.

<hr width=100% size=1>Think I'll draw some little rabbits on my head, from a distance they might be mistaken for hairs.

 

[tom52]

Now the worrying can really begin.
The less you see them the more you worry.
Its a cruel hard world out there, away from home.

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[Aja]

ooooh! They'll be back!

We've just had No 2's bedroom redecorated in the hope that she's away for good (this time).

No 1 is talking about giving up her flat and moving - again. No way am I going to do the flitting this time. Leave it up to her and all her pals (of which there are apparently 000's)

Just as long as there isn't a gap between one flat and the next..... we dont have the room now!

Its great to have them both back for dinner every couple of weeks or so... the chat's great.

1st week after No2 had left we didn't know what to do ... it was very quiet...

Donald



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