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Half Empty Nest

September 12, 2012 //  by Uju//  8 Comments

My baby started big school today. He looked so happy and yet so teeny in his big brother’s school jumper. We’ve built up school as a great adventure, so he was super excited to be off for his first day. At leaving time, only mama had tears in her eyes.

I’d waited 6 long years for this — my first official (half) day to myself. So why did I feel so bereft?

Jed’s still only in the nursery at school but already there’s that sense he’s been swallowed up by the system. The school gate clanged heavily behind me when I left.

I remember when Ezra started school. I still had Jed in a buggy but another mum friend reported feeling lost, now that she no longer had a little one to look after all day.

‘What will you do with all that time to yourself?’ other parents ask me, with a dose of irony as we all know pick-up time comes in the blink of an eye.

The thing about this new-found freedom is that you can come adrift without a plan for the next phase.

I’m a dreaming kinda gal and I have big things in mind, many of which I’ve already put in motion. I’m looking forward to finally having a little breathing room and a lot more head space to invest in my life purpose outside kids and family.

I’ll have more time to write, to earn, to network, to create, to share, to connect, to read, to hoop! Yes, I’m looking forwards but also looking back and the feeling is bitter-sweet.

My nest is half-empty but my cup spills over.

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Category: Best Of, LifeTag: family, kids, mums, parenting

About Uju

Uju Asika is a writer and blogger, a digital consultant and author of Bringing Up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World, published in September 2020 by Yellow Kite (Hachette UK). Available in hardback, ebook and audiobook formats on Amazon, Waterstones and other good bookshops. Follow Uju @babesabouttown on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram.

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Comments

  1. Sandy Calico

    September 12, 2012 at 5:25 pm

    I love the too-big jumpers :)
    You’ve inspired me to make some plans for my soon-to-be-empty nest. Thank you. x

  2. Alexander Residence

    September 12, 2012 at 6:38 pm

    Aw he looks so so cute in his big jumper! Right, quick let’s get planning ;)

  3. Honest Mum

    September 12, 2012 at 7:55 pm

    Can imagine it was an emotional day and you’re baby is growing up so quickly but all that wonderful you time to conquer the world is yours now and you are an amazing woman, achieving so much already with more to come…go, go, go xxx

  4. Joanna

    September 12, 2012 at 8:05 pm

    you’ve made me cry now!

  5. Uju

    September 18, 2012 at 5:54 pm

    Sorry Jo, didn’t mean to make you blub! ;-)

  6. Uju

    September 18, 2012 at 5:56 pm

    Aww thanks hon! I do feel immensely positive and after his first few days, he’s loving nursery so it’s all good x

  7. Uju

    September 18, 2012 at 5:56 pm

    Doesn’t he just? And yes, indeedy AR, time to get to work *rubs hands together*

  8. Uju

    September 18, 2012 at 5:57 pm

    You’re already on your way to big things Sandy, so this will just give you a bit more time and focus. Good luck with the transition :-)

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