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Sunday February 5, 2012

What we're talking about

  • MARK STEWARTT on I love trains... Ric Ditchburn.i agree with your comments on the trains. whenever i need to go into the city i travel by train. you can sit ... more
  • Gary Thexton on I love trains... Dear Ric,Having completed the last survey, it took me through to magic website and saw your item on trains. Can I suggest ... more
  • Lesley on I love trains... I have been known to follow someone off the train and hand them their rubbish to dispose of properly! Trains are great after ... more
  • Jane Fisher on I love trains... Like you Ric, I am always amazed that anyone can just get up and leave a tram or a train and leave their rubbish behind. ... more
  • Elizabeth Johnson on More of Ric's Blogs! Sorry Rick. I don't think I said thank you for allowing me to call again with the mystery sound. I was far too excited ... more
  • Shirley Sole on More of Ric's Blogs! Hi Ric, Very sorry to hear of your trip to hospital.I do hope you are coming on well now after your operation.We miss you ... more
  • affordable term life insurance on Blog: Ric's take on insurance I've been looking for information just like that and now i found it. Thank for a very useful information. I will visit this ... more
  • Cheryl on Ric's Blog: More choice, more $$$? Hi Ric, As Mary Hopkins sings, "Those were the days my friend". We had the Tagg bros.,one owned the newsagent (where my ... more
  • Chris King on Ric's Blog: Besieged by communication Ric I went in to a shop to get a new cell phone (Ihave,nt got used to the word Mobile yet, but have lived here for 41 ... more
  • Chris King on Ric's Blog: More choice, more $$$? Hi Ric Yes I do miss the personal service that we used to have. When living at home with my grandmother , Mr Blotniek, the ... more
  • ron kelsen on Ric's Blog: Besieged by communication i am 65 years old, and in my childhood years telephones were for rich people, most people visited each other, sat down and ... more
  • Karelyn on Ric's Blog: More choice, more $$$? I agree with Ric.He had Mr Redpath. When I was going to primary school we had Mr Rich. A great family store. Back then he or ... more
  • J and R McIntosh. on Ric's Blog: Besieged by communication Hi RIC, I am a high school teacher and sometimes I have students texting the person sitting next to them.How neccessary is ... more
  • Jane Fisher on Ric's take on the bushfires We used to live near where the fires have been and have taken a couple of trips up to Kinglake to see for ourselves. I can ... more
  • Jane Fisher on Ric's Blog: Besieged by communication Hi Ric, We never had the phone on at home but our neighbour did, but that number was only ever to used for DIRE emergencies, ... more
  • James Nixon on Ric's Blog: Besieged by communication Hi Ric, Nice piece, but in 1961 it would have been BB 6479 or 21 6479. We were in Camberwell with BX 5229 (29 5229) ... more
  • Georgina Millard on Ric's Blog: Besieged by communication How right you are. I remember when we first got the phone on at home in the 60's, you would never just pick up the phone and ... more
  • julie on Ric Ditchburn's Blog: Empty Nester We have 4 children and 2 have left home or so we thought. Now the other two's girl/boy friends like to visit and stay over. ... more
  • Richard from Sacramento on Ric Ditchburn: What, me worry? I reckon you are absolutely on the mark, Ric. Not only does it sometimes seem like a movie, but a bad one at that. Of ... more
  • Maureen Claughton on Ric Ditchburn's Blog: Empty Nester I too brought up my 3 kids alone Ric and have now lived on my own for several years I JUST LOVE IT, I love to see them when ... more

Ric Ditchburn's Blog: Empty Nester

Posted by: By Ric Ditchburn | 15 April, 2009 - 10:32 PM
Ric Ditchburn: Magic 1278 presenter and blogger Now I want to say at the outset that I love my children. I love them more than anything in the world and I would never want them to be anything else but wonderfully happy and content.

I bet that if you have children you will feel exactly as I do, maybe even more so.

But … a week or so back … my 24 year old daughter became the last of the tribe to leave home (together with the boyfriend who has been under my roof for three years now).

Now … people say that I will miss them and that I will get lonely in house all by myself (apart from Clovis the rat-bag cat).

So far, I’m happy to say, it hasn’t happened. Should I feel guilty that I am enjoying the peace and tranquillity?

Thirty four years I’ve been bringing up children … and I reckon I’ve done my bit. Now it’s ME time. Thirty Four years!!!

But the question remains …. as it does with most parents … what to do if they want to come back? I haven’t had this happen to me yet because I’m tough. I tell them that once they go that’s it … there is no going back …or coming back.

Of course they know deep down that if they were really in trouble that Dad is an old softie and they would be welcomed back with open arms.

Tell me if you think it’s wrong that I can still feel the tension oozing out of me. I’m starting to really relax. I can do what I like without fear of being told off by some cheeky kid that I brought into the world!!

And for those of you about to go through this experience, you will find that once they are on their own two feet, they really learn to appreciate quickly, what a great person you really were / are. Your relationship with them changes completely and they become fantastic friends.

You know the really funny thing? You see more of them after they move out .

And they invite YOU over for dinner!!

Tell me your story.

Till next time …cheers … Ric

Blog comments Your Say

  • We have 4 children and 2 have left home or so we thought. Now the other two's girl/boy friends like to visit and stay over. They eat, shower and I wash their towels and dishes. We have decided when the other two do leave we are selling the house before they can come back! We are lucky though they are good kids!

    julie Tuesday 12 May, 2009 - 10:16 PM

  • I too brought up my 3 kids alone Ric and have now lived on my own for several years I JUST LOVE IT, I love to see them when they visit but when they go I love to sit back in my favourite chair and pick my favourite radio or television programs and know how lucky I am. I of course love them all dearly too but enough is enough.

    Maureen Claughton Wednesday 29 April, 2009 - 2:27 PM

  • Our first Son left home 2 weeks ago - he is now staying at UNI in a dorm type environment. Before he left my wife and I were ancious about his coming and going at all hours of the night, and about how much money he needed to borrow. Now we are free!!! - well, we still have 2 at home - but seeing one leave the nest gives us renewed hope.

    Tom Monday 20 April, 2009 - 4:02 PM

  • There is nothing wrong with breathing a sigh of relief once our children leave home, Ric. Like you, I love my children more than anything but had to laugh when my daughter told me there was no way she would be able to live with me again after getting a taste of freedom! Well, hello!!
    Just a tad presumptious to think I would want my new found freedom taken away.
    Cheers from Cheryl

    Cheryl Friday 17 April, 2009 - 3:47 PM

  • make the most of it. sooner or later they will get married and you will be number one baby sitter.

    ronald Thursday 16 April, 2009 - 4:46 PM

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