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Running like the devil, or how my friend is dealing with her empty nest

This weekend was Homecoming, and it was full of activities including soccer games, the dance, etc. Daughter played on Saturday, in a fierce game against a new high school. The battle was hard fought, but unfortunately lost. By one point. It was sad, but I was incredibly proud of the girls. They held their heads high and several were heard to say, 'Those girls are good. They wanted it, they earned it. Losing sucks, but if you have to, losing like that is ok.'

Daughter was also voted Homecoming Queen. Seriously. How cool is that?? She didn't even tell us she was in the running. But she looks super cute adorned with her tiara...that's all I'm sayin'.

Some of the best conversations occur between us spectators, on the sidelines, while the game is being played. There's the usual bitching about refs, in which I refuse to engage unless we're faced with a ref whose skills are endangering the girls' physical well being. There's the predictable 'soccer takes up so much of our time' whining, another one in which I refuse to participate. The girls don't have to play, after all. If they do, they need to be there, you know?

Seriously.

Anyway, one of the topics in which I have played an active conversant of late has been the whole emptying nest thing. Three years ago we sent our son off to NYC, and for a few months I felt fragile and sad and elated all at the same time that he'd earned a place in a great school..so far away from us.

Other parents have been going through this as well, and all handle the transition differently.

This weekend as I was watching Daughter's game, a dad from last year came up and chatted for a bit. Their nest is empty, as their daughter is a year older than ours and their older son has been away as long as ours has.

They're now officially alone. In an impressive house in the heights. Lots of room to wander around and wallow in self-indulgent parent nostalgia reminisce if one is so inclined.

But, that's not how they're gonna do it. Mom decided that she didn't want to work even more at her medical practice (which could have been a way for her to deal with this...), and that shopping in every free hour wasn't an option either, at least long-term. So she decided to run. A half marathon.

Nice, huh? Turns out her daughter, who no longer plays soccer, has taken up running as an exercise and good way to manage college stress. She's going to run in the half, too. During parents' weekend at her school. And so is Dad, who is now training with a buddy of his.

Constructive way to deal with the 'now what the hell are we going to do with all of this time/each other?' issue, isn't it?
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