KC....me, too. The last left the nest last summer after two years in college and while she didn't bring as many home as her brother and sister did, I still miss them all.

We had a big, old, rundown, in agenteel sort of way, Victorian in Msytic, CT. It was right downtown. There was a constant flow of teens and neighbor kids through and I loved it. They were all outrageous and fun and truly interesting AND really eager to have an adult who was interested in them. I'll never forget how good I felt when my oldest daughter's friend came to me for advice on being intimate with her boyfriend. She couldn't talk to her mom or dad, so she came to me. Her parents were very strict. One night when she was gone all night; the police were looking for her, as well as all of us, her mother was so mad and scared that she almost hit her. She didn't because I was there. I understood her anger and fear. Her daughter came to my house next door and to this day remembers that I and my kids and husband were the ones who gave her a hug, asked if she was okay, and told her how happy we were that she was okay.

Kids need more adults who listen and care.

katl