We brought John Robert (JR) up to Nazareth in Rochester, NY on a Wednesday, and the very next day John and I set off for Niagara Falls and our first solo vacation. Getting away was the perfect way to ease into this new chapter of being an empty nester, separated from JR.
It was only a short 1.5-hour drive north, and I’m so glad we did it. We supported each other through the bittersweet feeling of having our baby leave the nest. JR called us those first couple of days, and we even got to Zoom with him for a few days. On Thursday, we explored the U.S. side of Niagara Falls, where we rode the Maid of the Mist. The views were breathtaking. Even though we got completely soaked, it was worth every drop.
The Falls are stunning, and I recommend seeing both the U.S. and Canadian sides. On that first day, we braved the boat ride right up to the Falls. The poncho helped, but we still end up drenched. Being in the water so close to that power was unforgettable. If only the weather had been a little brighter, we could have dried faster!
The next two days, we stayed on the Canadian side, blessed with perfect weather. It was 85 degrees, sunny skies, and even a rainbow stretching across the Falls. We toured beneath the water, watched the colors change at night, and marveled at the nightly fireworks at 10 pm. Both sides offered something unique and beautiful.
On our way home, we met up with Brian and Chris Shoemaker (friends from MDG that live close to JR’s school). We enjoyed a nice brunch and an eight-hour drive filled with conversations about future adventures and places we want to see together.
To my fellow new empty nesters, my advice is this: cut the cord. Let them go, even though it’s easier said than done. When we move forward with our own lives, our kids can too. JR is 18 now and no longer my little boy, but a young man starting his own journey. John and I are rediscovering our time together, and it feels good. Luckily, parents’ weekend is only a few weeks away, so we’ll be back at Nazareth soon to see JR again. Time flies by so quickly. It feels like just yesterday that we dropped him off at school.
P.S. If you are experiencing any issues about being an Empty Nester, please feel free to reach out to me. What JR and the other Freshman are experiencing is a rite of passage, new beginnings. What the parents are experiencing is both a loss and a newfound freedom. We had the first of many new journeys together.
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