If your kids haven’t been at home for a month can you still write a post for Mom2mom?

That’s a good question. I’m about to find out.

The boys have been gone now nearly a month. I’m getting a true taste of what it must be like to have an empty nest. From my prospective, it’s bitter sweet.

The first problem is getting used to the quiet. I hate it. Talking to the iguana only carries me so far, especially since the darn lizard won’t talk back to me. He just sits there looking at me as if I’m crazy.

The first thing I do when I come in the house is either turn on some music or the boob tube - my name for the television. I never realized just how much mindless television programming there actually is. I’ve watched everything from Bridezilla to Jersey Shore to Love in the Wild to American Pickers. I think I’m hooked on American Pickers, though. Now that’s a sad commentary.

I’ve been reading a lot more, and that’s not a bad thing. I’ve had a stack of books and magazines I’ve been meaning to read, by my bedside for months now. Only I’m plowed through all the magazines and found out most of the books weren’t all that interesting.

I’ve been working out more; going to the Do Jong (Korean for gym) about four times a week. My body has never been so sore in all my life. And, I think I twisted my back funny. I can hardly move at all now.

I’ve also worked more hours than I normally do. More time in the newsroom and more time at the Kansas City Store where I work most Sunday mornings. Now that hasn’t been a bad thing. I like being in the newsroom and at the store. I’ve been able to do some pretty good work not having to worry about needing to run home to get Jordan to this place or that.

I have also been eating more. Now I thought that since I wouldn’t have to cook every day that I would eat less, maybe lose a few pounds during this month-long stretch. But instead boredom has me snacking on junk all day long especially on the weekends. This past weekend I was insatiable it seemed. I ate just about every thing in the house that wasn’t nailed down. Disgusting.

There is plenty of time too for thinking about the future, what improvements you want to do to the house and how much money it would cost. There's plenty of time to go through stuff and purge, and clean, and re-arrange. That's if you've got the strength for all that work. Me. not so much. I'm more of the enjoy the evening, enjoy the kids kind of mom.

 But there is no one here these days to make me laugh or say weird teenager stuff that makes good fodder for blog posting. If this is what empty nesting is all about you can keep it. I like my noisy, busy household. I like planning healthy meals and cooking them for hungry boys who think everything mom prepares is awesome.

I like hearing the click of the computer in their rooms mixed with the sound of their music. I like the sibling bickering and the stomp of their feet up and down the stairs all day.

I hear lots of my friends with teens saying they can’t wait until the kids are out of the house. And, I have to admit, I think I’ve said it myself once or twice. But having gotten a taste of it for the last 30 days, as far as I’m concerned, empty nesting is for the birds.