#stepkids — Public Fediverse posts

Empty Nest… Again

We became empty nesters in 2021 when my step son left for college. My step daughter is two years older and she left for college in 2019. She finished her undergrad in 2023 and went to work at the same University in a research lab. My step son finished his under grad in 2025 and started grad school the next semester.

Also in 2025 my step daughter’s contract with the research lab finished. It was time for her to move on. Grad school was next, but she did not yet have anything lined up. She was going to need some time to work everything out so she moved back home temporarily and for a while we were no longer empty nesters.

Like I said though, it was temporary and today is the day that it ends. Next weekend we are flying out to California to help her move into her new University housing. About an hour ago she left the house so she can spend the rest of this week at her dad’s. He isn’t going out to CA right away so she’s going to spend some time with him while she can. 

So technically speaking, she hasn’t actually moved out yet. That will happen, strictly speaking, on Saturday. Still… she won’t be back here until Saturday morning and that will just be to meet up with me and her mother for the drive to the airport.

So now we’re back to being empty nesters again. We also have to deal with the mixed feelings that come with it. On the one hand, she’s moving to southern California to start a PHD program. How awesome is that? She’s about to go through an amazing experience. I can’t wait to see what she does next, and I can’t wait to see what life has in store for her. She is incredible and she is going to do incredible things. At the same time, I don’t want her to go. My wife and I are really sad right now. We miss her already.

I am going to focus on the positives and try to just be excited for her. I don’t know if I can cheat myself that way, but I am going to try.

It is Going to Snow

We had plans to go to Vermont My step son celebrated his birthday on Tuesday and we were going to go see him for a slightly belated birthday lunch.

That was before the winter storm warning was announced and the forecast started calling for maybe 10 inches of snow.

Eight days ago we were in Florida and it was 88 degrees out.

Winter sucks.

#birthday #collegeKids #Family #forecast #Snow #StepKids #stepSon #Weather #winter

I’m a #queer #mom with #cis #stepkids & I’m #fighting for #trans #equality. It’s hard.

I listened to a #trans #girl who would be #forced to #quit #soccer before #celebrating my #stepson's #soccer #season.

#Women #Transgender #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #Parents #Allies #Entertainment #Sports #Representation #Culture #Conservatives #Extremism #Fascism #Religion #RepublicanParty #Hate #Bigotry #Violence #Genocide #Discrimination #Transphobia #ThePartyOfHate #EmptyThePews

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2024/08/im-a-queer-mom-with-cis-stepkids-im-fighting-for-trans-equality-its-hard/

I think my step son Harry loves both of our cats very much, but if I am being honest, I think Robin is his favorite. I also think that Robin knows this, and I think that Harry is Robin’s favorite human. They are best buds, really.

As I have mentioned a few thousand times on this little journal of silliness, my work from home office space is currently situated in Harry’s room. When he moved to Burlington he took most of his furniture with him, including his bed. In it’s place, Jen and I bought a day bed that can double as a couch when Harry isn’t home with us, and a bed when he is.

Earlier today, while I was working, I turned around for a second and found this view of Robin sleeping on the day bed.

I sent it to the family group text and said I think this means that Robin misses Harry. I think that is clear.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/07/02/harrys-cat/

#Cat #collegeKid #Family #harry #iphoneography #Kitty #photography #robin #StepKids #stepSon

My step son’s plane landed a little over an hour ago. My wife went to the airport to pick him up and they are on their way home now.

Another happy landing! The plane is on the ground, safe and sound. Welcome back to Earth, Harry!

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/03/15/on-the-ground/

#Travel #Family #StepKids #Kids #stepSon #fly #harry #collegeKids #airTravel #flight #springBreak #transAtlanticFlight

The cats don’t tend to visit me while I am working, but for some reason they did today. Maybe they know I am in my step son’s bed room and he’s flying home from the UK today. He is currently in the air, on his way to London to grab a connecting flight to Boston. Can the cats sense that?

Anyway, I took some pic because that’s what I do.

Lily promised me she wasn’t the one who messes with the plant clipping I wrote about yesterday.

Yeah, whatever you say, feline. Whatever you say.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/03/15/morning-cats-4/

#365 #365Challenge #airTravel #Cat #flights #flying #harry #internationalFlights #iphoneography #Kids #Kitty #lily #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photography #robin #StepKids #stepSon #Travel