Name some things you appreciate MUCH more or notice now

**cab54** · 06-20-2008, 08:36 PM

Now that we're older/emptynesters/have done some living........

**jamie79** · 06-20-2008, 11:21 PM

I appreciate the quiet more now. As I get older I have less people in my life and I like it that way. Dont have to put up with their drama

**cissylu** · 06-21-2008, 08:19 AM

I appreciate the slowing down and the peace not haveing to deal with anything till I`m ready.
I`m retired now 4yr,.

**nancycg56** · 06-21-2008, 08:34 AM

I love hearing the neighbor kids playing outside ~ especially since I don't have to get them in, cleaned up, etc.

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 06-21-2008, 09:45 AM

Walks with my husband. No child running back and forth yelling about something usually when are we gonna go.
Making what I want for supper! No one say ewww I don't like that.
Early morning unrushed coffee.

Laurie in Bradenton

**mombottoo** · 06-21-2008, 11:17 AM

Children playing & screaming...I even appreciate the fighting...brings back memories and makes me smile. I smile even bigger when the child throwing the temper tantrum belongs to someone who threw temper tantrums when they were little.

Flowers...I never appreciated them when I was younger, now I love them.

Sounds...of nature...the tree frogs at night, the birds in the morning, the sound of the loons at dusk.

Looking at my daughter and seeing myself at her age...her reaction when she was looking through photos that included me at her age and she said (in a totally shocked voice), "Oh my God I do look like you!!!"...told her I didn't know if I should be offended or not that she was so shocked

! She apparently didn't realize until that point that I was her age once and didn't always look...well...older

!

**leezza** · 06-21-2008, 04:56 PM

I really notice peoples manners more now, (or in some cases the lack there of).

leezza

**Mom23boys** · 06-21-2008, 05:59 PM

I enjoy spending more alone time with DH. I think we took each other for granted while the boys were little and needed us more. Now that they are grown/growing up, we are able to spend more time together - just the two of us.

**cab54** · 06-22-2008, 11:09 AM

Arrgghh. I've tried to answer you responses (to each response) on this thread TWICE now, and been thrown out (a whole page!). Not by FV, by my lovely wandering cursor that like to go up and X me out of everything! It's more than wander--it likes to hop around like a flea, and does it before I even see it. Grrrr.

Well--in summary (lol)....I agree with all you posted and more!

I have really gotten back in touch with nature...especially up here at the cabin. Love the birds singing at night, I used to be so busy and stressed, I didn't even notice stuff like that.

I LOVE staying home and reading or knitting, and used to have to run run run all the time to the kids' stuff--, school activities......I didn it for my kids and gladly.....but soooo glad to relax now.

The morning coffee! OMG, I had one sip before starting breakfast, breaking up fights, going up and down stiars several times to get teen boys up, and again to help dh find that one pair of pants that were hanging RIGHT THERE! LOL! Now he usually sleeps past when I wake, and I have a couple of hours ALL.....TO......MYSELF.

I love to hear kids too now...I don't have to break up the fights, feed them, raise them, make good citizens out of them, and send them to college. My new neighbor (at home) is SOO worried that her two boys (same as I had) are making too much noise or bothering me. I say NOOOO, you should have heard it here about 10 years ago! I LOVE to hear her boys playing, it takes me back to when mine were little.....

I appreciate--quiet, being alone, being with dh, coffee in peace, eating what I want when I want, sleeping in, slowing down, staying away from people (I am not antisocial, but I hate all of the static that being around people puts in my head.), adoring kids that aren't mine, uninterrupted conversations with dh, nature, birds singing, the breeze blowing, the ANTICIPATION of grandchildren--and then being able to hand them back to my kids when we're done 'playing'. (I get the play, YOU get the work, got it? )

**PrairieRose** · 06-22-2008, 12:33 PM

I really love the time I have with my dh, the little trips we can take with no regard to the school year schedule, how clean my house stays after I clean it (lol), so little laundry, so little cooking compared to days gone by and eating/cooking what we want (or just having a bowl of cereal). I really love to drink coffee on the deck and listen to the birds in the mornings, have a drink out there in the evening and listen to the birds.....so much I notice that I didn't have time to notice before.....Life is sooooo good as an empty nester. For about the first year I didn't know if I'd survive it but now it's total bliss. (and yes, I look forward to grandchildren but this time is perfect right now)

**mom2matty** · 06-22-2008, 12:44 PM

Well I'm not quite an empty nester yet.....still have our youngest at home (he's 14). I will be honest and say I appreciate the time I get with my very busy and very grown up dd, she is almost 21, never home and infact moving out today! I loved her to death while she was here but now that she is leaving and moving on and growing up I truly do appreciate the time I get with her!!
I appreciate the time dh and I get to spend together, even with a teenager in the house we still can get away for breakfast or go for a walk alone!!

**annymoll** · 06-23-2008, 09:18 AM

I appreciate good service... the kind waitress,the funny grocery checker, the paper boy who places the paper by my door. Those little things they do that stand out. I love going into the bathroom, shutting the door, and having peace. No one banging on the door yelling"Mommmmmmm!!"The morning coffee , no making cookies at 10pm cuz someone forgot they had to bring them the next day,gardening, spur of the moment trips and dinner parties.I appreciate the ruckus and flurry of the grandkids, and the quiet afterwards.I appreciate toilet paper lasting longer.

**frugalfoster** · 06-23-2008, 09:51 AM

I'm with Prairie Rose. There is just so much more freedom and peace in our house. But, I do appreciate the family vacations that we take every year. My grown daughters are such good friends now! When we are together we all have so much fun!

**stinkbug** · 06-23-2008, 11:42 AM

I love, love, love the free time with dh and our nice quiet dinners. Not having to set the table for dinner...we eat at the island...and groceries last forever! Simpler meals are a huge bonus! Not having to be somewhere or pick up kids from activities.
Taking off on weekends....

**dolphin** · 06-23-2008, 02:55 PM

Although I like being able to read a book a day (yes, I do it, lol) and not have to worry about what else I should be doing, I miss all the child rearing years.

I absolutely loved all the noise and confusion and demands on me and if I could, I'd have 3 or 4 more children right now.

Mommyhood went by way to fast for me and I'd love to have it all back. I think mostly it's because I've not filled my life with other interests and I don't have any connections with children now. Not a grandma and neices and nephews are too far away.

Just my thoughts....