Empty Nester Shops

Let's Give this Shopping Thing a Whirl!

 

Let's face it. I'm a bit fluffy. (Although I have to say I've ditched 10 lbs. of fluffiness since this picture in January.) I'm not the skier my people are. Yes, I've done the black diamonds, but I'm perfectly content on my blue runs. I'm the MOM -- well aware that if I tear my ACL our household won't run smoothly. I've never been comfortable on moguls, and powder has always given me pause. I've sought out the groomed runs and been perfectly content to ski those at my own pace while my chicks all hit the trees, bumps and other assorted craziness. 

Until this year. In January, we skied Angel Fire Resort in New Mexico. Chris at Winter Sports put me on a set of Black Crow Vertis Birdie skis to demo. Holy Cow. For the first time EVER, I was thrilled to ski in powder. These skis could handle anything I threw at them -- and gave me a confidence I've never had. I've been skiing since I was 14, and this was the absolute best I have ever skied. 

I've bought a pair of these, and they are waiting for me in Angel Fire. If you are even thinking about ditching the rental process and buying a set of skis, I can't recommend them enough! 

Two Important Things! First, these skies are being discontinued after this year! So if you're looking for an all-mountain ski that is just AMAZING, you might want to jump on it!  Also, I'm 5'5" and skied on the 152s. Again, I'm just a regular skier -- nothing fancy. And this length was perfect for me!

Note: This is my first affiliate link EVER. If you do buy the Vertis Birdies from this link, I'll receive a bit of compensation. Which would help pay for some ski poles.... 

Good Thing I'm Not a Planner

Ha. 

I had a plan. A really good one. Biggsy and I decided to take a spur-of-the-moment trip to the Creek last weekend. I needed it. I needed it like a crop needs rain. Like macaroni needs cheese. Like toast needs cinnamon. 

I needed to sit on the pier and read a book and soak up the sunshine and not talk to a soul for a least a day. I needed to recharge. I needed fresh air. 

And I had a plan. I thought I'd do all that, then write a great blog post about being flexible in your Empty Nesterhood. About seizing opportunities to just GO. About being in the moment. About how AWESOME it is to do that. 

But.... 

Biggsy was a bit green by the time we got to Ellinger, and greener still the closer we got to the Creek. I'm not sure if it was food poisoning, the Norovirus or payback for being grinchy at some random point, but it was NOT FUN. Not much sleep Friday night, and a quick trip home on Saturday once he recovered enough to travel. 

So much for a GREAT blog post. 

We do have a FUN Empty Nesterhood adventure planned late this week, so stay tuned!

College Acceptances Rolling In; Now What?

 I know.... I know.... I promised you a new, improved Empty Nesterhood blog; and I'm back to talking about the kids. BUT you can't put the cart before the horse. And until you get those chickens out of your house, you can't bask in the beauty of lazy Saturday mornings without softball tournaments. 

Abbie's college acceptance process was all about softball, so her path was on a fall-semester timeline. And Kait's was smack in the middle of the COVID epidemic. Kait wanted to spread her wings out of state. When the first couple of college applications didn't go as planned, I admit we went a bit overboard. Okay. A LOT overboard. 

Kait finished high school in December 2020, but didn't officially graduate until May 2021. She spent that spring in Costa Rica with CIEE (that's a whole post for another day.) She flew home in March for a week, and knew she had to make a decision. We hashed the pros and cons of 17 college acceptances, and Virginia Tech won! Our girl is a Hokie! A junior civil engineering major, ZTA, and all-around rockstar. 

And this is what I learned.... 

We are currently in the height of college acceptance season. Ivy Day is about a month away. If your graduate isn't likely to receive an Ivy acceptance, now is your time to shine as a parent!

* Join the parent pages. Most schools have a parent page on Facebook. Some are great. Some are less than great. I know I'm biased, but I have to tell you the Hokie Family page is the best I've ever seen -- and I've looked at a lot of them. This is a great way to find out if your graduate will find their fit at their chosen school. A great way to find answers to a ton of questions. AND a great way to find out if they'll be safe in their new home. I can tell you the parent page for one school is the sole reason we gave it a wide berth. Big scholarship offers mean nothing if your baby girl isn't going to be safe. 

*No one knows your graduate like you do. You will be their best advocate. Not every student will thrive 1500 miles away from home. In Kait's case, she didn't think she would thrive at A&M or t.u., as both seemed like extensions of our high school. What is great for one graduate isn't going to be great for another. 

*Expect your graduates to become adults -- but not all at once. If you've ever watched a monarch hatch form a chrysalis, you know it takes time. Accepting a college offer comes with a LOT of deadlines. If your student isn't the type to just take that bull by the horns, it's okay to offer some leadership. Some of those missed deadlines can be expensive learning opportunities. 

*Consider potential income when choosing a major / university. If your student is going to major in underwater basket weaving, please don't go with an out-of-state university or private college unless you are independently wealthy. The ROI just isn't there. Again, every graduate is different. But saddling our students with college loans that they will have no ability to pay in the future is doing them a huge injustice. 

*Take the visits! Most schools have accepted student weekends. We weren't able to do this with Kait because of the COVID. When we flew into Virginia to take her to school, she proclaimed, "Y'all didn't tell me I was going to school in the mountains!" And two weeks AFTER school started we got a call that Virginia Tech didn't actually have her major after all. BLESS IT. So take the visits! See what the schools have to offer!

*DECIDE NOW. Every school is different -- but with MANY, if you accept their offer, and pay your deposit, you get on the front end of the dorm selection. This is KEY to minimizing the number of sleepless nights due to continuous fire alarms. (You've listened to me and joined the parent pages, right? So you know which dorms are the worst?) As I mentioned earlier, Ivy Day is about a month away. That means there are thousands of hopeful college graduates just waiting for those acceptances (or rejections.) As soon as Ivy Day hits, they are going to flood all the other admissions offices. If your darling graduate isn't Ivy League material, I highly recommend you get ahead of that mess. Make the decision, pay the deposit, and celebrate National Margarita Day tonight. 

While coming back to my blog is fresh, it's part of an idea that's been percolating for awhile. Empty Nesters have so much knowledge to offer those who are coming along behind us! If you have ideas or suggestions to share, please comment below!

Also: This post has no affiliate links. Just advice I hope you find helpful!

Happy New Year from Breck! And Nelli!

Mom said a lot's happened in The Empty Nesterhood since she blogged last....

Here's just a glimpse!

Happy New Year from Breck! And Nelli!

Welcome to the Breck and Nelli Show! Our 2023 recap is brought to you by the letter "B" -- Biggs, Breakfast, Bacon, Balls and Birds! And Birds! And More Birds!

Abbie started nursing school. Dad got Global -- Upgrades for everyone! Mom & Dad skied Angel Fire with the Parrishes and Thompsons. So. Much. Snow. -31degrees. Caramel Bars. Avoid Amarillo and scissors on I-27. Arborgeddon. Limbs everywhere. No power for days, so we kept Mom warm. Biggsest Super Bowl Party! Lauren Daigle at the Rodeo with Leslie, Jess, and Milk Punch! Mom & Dad skied Park City with the girls and two BFs. Breck barked all night. Catan, Murder Mystery, Java Cow! Dad stuck in a snowbank! ZTA Mom's Weekend. Big Red up on blocks. Easter at Didi's! Abbie got a bigger tattoo. Mom moved Kait to Fairfax. Civil engineering internship. Then UR for Abbie's Graduation. With Honors!?!? Google the speaker! Dogwood blossoms for Granny Sue. Lilac Fest. That's not red velvet. Goodbye Cook Street. Hello, Goler House! Dad drank Bud Light. Cheap beer for the win! Weekend with Kait in Fairfax. Farmer's Market, NRA Museum, Smithsonian, Monuments, and DAR! Visiting Bill Tolar at Arlington. Bought some dirt in Angel Fire. Abbie got Mr. Joy's guitar pick. Angel Fire with Kait and lots of friends! Dad played golf. Mom hit balls. Lots of adventures! Hiking to our dirt, Disc Golf, Caramel Bars, Venison Creole. July 4th party! Step away from the Jell-O shots. Robin says the quiet parts out loud. Dad has golf handicap now. Bought more dirt in Angel Fire. Zeke chews things. Kait got spoiled at Kate's house. Austin was Africa hot. Mom floated every day. Abbie went to a Sabers Game. Kait is a junior! Astros game with Abbie and the BF. #LiveLikeNelli Opening Weekend. New friends and old. The BF brought his Dad. Breck picked the BF. So. Many. Dove. Mom walked the Boston 3-Day. Cody! Lacee! Abbie joined in for a day! Porta Potty Shortage. Pink Santa! We know him! More Doves! Mom won't stop rowing. Mike & Max taught Mom about chicken roping. Kait turned 21! Mom & Dad celebrated 26 in Angel Fire! Doves, Doves, Doves. Hope Lodge. TSDF Gala was a night in Vegas! Kait got rear-ended. Abbie's apartment had a ghost. Kait home for ACL and Dad's Birthday Weekend. Tanya Tucker, Shania Twain, and JP's Pancakes. More Doves! Abbie got a job in Austin! Astros didn't win. Kait's internship for next summer is in Charlotte, NC. The Tiaras discovered Pledge the Pink! Ann Camden, Golf Cart Parade, Flamingos EVERYWHERE! No deer for Mom. Abbie sleeps so deep Mom called the police! Mom gave Dad the COVID. Mom got Cheesy at VT. She's a Flipper! Bake Shop! Mimi & Pa rode with Dad in the Jaguar. Squeeze! Upgrades for everyone! Jim's on Main, Susan B. Anthony's Grave, Dinner with the Smiths! Abbie Graduated! She & Mom made a Cannonball Run home! Christmas Story House in Cleveland. You'll shoot your eye out! World's Largest Fork. Jones Family Christmas in Gail. Murdoch was a cow! Biggsest Christmas Party! Gifts for Dell Children's! Christmas lights, Amy's Ice Cream and Cousin / Uncle Jeff's concert at LT Corner Pub. Mimi & Pa came for Christmas. Dad gave Mom the flu. Rice in the First Responders Bowl! Texas State fans drained the beer. New Year's Eve with the Thompsons!!

We ask you to pray for Aunt M'Lys' full recovery! Never forget, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is work within us, to him be glory in the church and Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!" Ephesians 3:20-21

Love, Breck, Nelli! & Co.

Welcome to The Empty Nesterhood!

 Last week I read an article about parents who pay big bucks for therapists to guide them into Empty Nesterhood. I get it. It's a whole new world. This season of life is a HUGE transition. You spend all those years making snacks, baking huge batches of cookies for concession stands, and driving carpool to soccer practice -- and all of a sudden those kiddos are GONE. And your house is quiet -- and feels really big. And you're only doing laundry once a week instead of all day, every day. And it's a HUGE adjustment. 

I remember sobbing in the laundry room after we dropped Abbie off at UofR. (If you read my blog, you'll find out my sobbing in the laundry room is kind of a thing.) I remember Biggsy wrapping his arms around me and saying, "I miss her, too," 

And boy, did I miss her. 

And now she's back. (For just a hot minute.)

There's kind of a lot to tell. 

I haven't been here in a long time. (I know. I've said that before.) And I'm not sure anyone else is here anymore. But when I thought about blogging again, I decided to come back here rather than start a new blog. It's kind of like visiting an old friend. Just as life has seasons, I guess a blog can as well. 

So welcome to The Empty Nesterhood. I'm glad you're here.