Labor Day weekend I went up to the mountains with some friends. We’ve spent most Labor Days together in the past ten years. They are all married couples with kids still at home. I’ve been the only one single and bringing her kids to these vacations. And now I joined them alone, without my girls (remember, I’m officially a single empty nester).

At first I didn’t know whether this situation would be awkward or not. Being single with kids is one thing. Joining a family outing alone without the kids is another.

AND…I had fun. They didn’t make me feel “different”. I pitched my tent, shared my food, went hiking, swimming, and kayaking with them as a “full” member of the group.   It was an absolutely fantastic weekend.

It was a great learning. Feeling different as a single parent without having my kids around is all in my head. Sure, people don’t hang out with you like they would with couples (let’s be honest, couples like hanging out with couples). Embracing who you are- where you’re at in life- is much more important than wallowing (as my older one put it) in the situation of being single and an empty nester.

Note: I mistakenly wrote “nexter”; maybe that’s a terminology we should use. We’ve completed a chapter in our lives and now we can say “NEXT”  🙂

Embrace where you are currently in life and enjoy it! Have fun!