After my older children decided it was time to move on and get their own places, they decided it was time they should go through my cabinets, cupboards et al, and divvy up my belongings. 

Brandon and Amber are taking the living room furntiture, two sets of bath towel sets, the kitchen ware and dishes.  Cheryl and Jacob are taking two other sets of bath towels; the kitchen towel sets, and the everyday flatware.  Becky and Mike want the family room furniture,  the dining room set, and that's it. Ashley doesn't really know what she'll need, but she'll get back to me.  Mind you, unless I haven't been told yet, I'm not dead, and still need to eat, sleep, bathe, and cook. So does their little sister, for that matter.

I don't mind giving them all a LITTLE something to help them get their first home together, but not my whole home!!! The kids sat around the family room and told me that they wanted a piece of me to take with them when they moved into their own first homes.  It touched me deeply........................but not that deeply I was born at night, but it wasn't last night. I think they want me to buy them everything that goes inside a house!

I giggled at all of them. Mind you, they announced their decision early this morning (Thank God, it was after my first cup of coffee so I was fully functional) so they haven't even started looking; except Ashley; she's moving in with her friends. And I wanted the boys to tell me how they felt about  only having things from our family; not theirs.  Both said, "But Mom, aren't we your family too?" What could I say after that???

I'll help get some things to help them start out on a good note.  Isn't that what a Mom is supposed to do?

Actually, I'm having one of those, "oh my children have left me...what am I to do" moments and my heart is breaking.  When they leave the lights on, forget to flush the toilet,  or lock the doors, that moment will pass and it's back to real life.

I'm wondering if they realize that they'll have to rely on themselves to pay the rent, utilities, food, and other items. Guess we'll find out sooner or later.

Maybe I'll take my cues from that "Failure to Launch" movie and turn one of their rooms into a naked room.  LOL

I'll let you know!