Independent Children = Empty Nest

When you have children it's not to keep them hanging onto your apron-strings - they will one day leave the nest. Both of my daughters are now in their twenties. They have grown into beautiful young women - inside and out. Naturally enough they have different personalities, but share important core values - respect, understanding, compassion, discipline and honesty. Values that one day they will pass on to their own children.

Watching my daughters grow into the happy, healthy, independent, wonderful people they are now has been a privilege that I wouldn't change for anything, and something I continue to delight in.

I feel they have been equipped to make their own way in the world. They will make mistakes, who doesn't? It's only with the benefit of hindsight that something is shown to be a mistake, but they will learn from those mistakes and grow because of them.

Having said that, there are mistakes they have made and then there are mistakes (in my opinion) I've stopped them from making. An example: one of my daughters calmly informed me a few years ago she intended to become a lapdancer and gave me her reasons. 'Calmly' (read into that what you will) I informed her that no, she wasn't and gave her my reasons. Phrases like 'over my dead body' were also put into use - you get the gist. Now, it's not my intention to offend any lapdancers out there, I'm sure you do a sterling job that's much appreciated, but lapdancing was not something I wanted my then seventeen year old daughter doing.

They will ask for my advice, just as I still ask for advice from my parents, and contrary to what I jokingly tell my daughters, I don't know everything.

My eldest daughter left to go backpacking around America in October 2008, and has now settled in Australia. My youngest daughter recently left to work abroad for six months. My nest is empty. So, although as I write this I'm feeling a little sorry for myself, would I have it any other way? You bet I wouldn't. I am extremely proud of them.