I was still working full time when my last one left the nest. Hubby and I were looking forward to some alone time, then he was diagnosed with cancer. Needless to say, it changed our perspective on everything.

I think everyone worries about how they will feel when their last child leaves the nest. I can honestly say, now that all the illnesses are behind us, that Chuck and I love ours. The kids are happy to visit, we love to have them and everyone is happy when they go back to their own lives. It's the best of all possible worlds.

But if anyone had told me this 10 years ago, I probably wouldn't have believed them.