For much of the past week, seven-year old Merrick has been the sole child at home after school. HWCBN has had debate tournaments and other activities; the Diva has rehearsal and performances.
Every day, Merrick asks where his big brother and sister are --and when they'll be home. He does his homework, practices the violin and then pretty much creates mayhem, mostly with the sixty-five (he grew) blood hound puppy.
Merrick: "But I'm all alone hewe!"
The Matron is fully aware that when Merrick is 13, he'll be alone. Scarlett and Stryker -- if the college path plan works out (and believe her, it will) -- will be gone. Merrick will spend the last five years of his life in his parents' house alone with the elderly, pining for visits from the much older siblings.
And today, watching him sit forlornly on the couch, wondering where the big kids are, the Matron saw his future -- and hers.
10 comments:
Nah. By that time he will have wide circles of friends with whom he tweets and snarglez and hoootz (those are what're coming after Twitter and Facebook). The 4 years after my elder son left home were awesome times with younger son, who left home 4 years later.
Yes, by then he'll have activities of his own. It won't be quite that bad. And make sure he learns how to cook!
If there's any solace, my little N is sitting on the stool at the peninsula doing the same thing (albeit we have no dogs to entertain her ~ K is working on addressing that particular issue). I wonder if this is a youngest child syndrome?
My older son is one year away from college, and my younger one, who worships him, is three years younger. So I have been having many visions of this sort. It may soon be time to break down and get the younger one that cat he's been asking for.
My oldest is already off at college (I haven't seen him for over 3 months) and the youngest was at a sleepover last night. It felt very strange to only have 2 kids in the house... which is what it will be all the time when EB goes off to college next fall.
I'm trying to not think about it very much.
things change, he will too. He may just revel in being the only child by then! Worry about what you need to worry about today, don't invent possible worries for the future :-)
Awwww.... That was my middle boy today--Oldest was Scouting and Youngest was birthday partying and he was SO BORED.
I had 12 years home alone and loved every minute!
My older daughter is a 29 year old Librarian living in London in a share house. My younger daughter is a 16 year old student living in suburban Australia with her parents.
The 16 year old texts her sister, "You left me here with the old people."
The 29 year old replies, "They weren't old when I had them. You must have worn them out."
Ah, sisterly bonding.
Sigh. I agree with your commenters; he'll bring his friends and activities home. I recommend you fill the fridge with his favorite drinks and create a snack basket with his favorites, too. It worked for us; the high schoolers hung out at our house, and we always knew what they were doing!
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