[Moses]

My experience has been completely different.

My son left for college almost a year ago and I miss him every day. There's an empty seat at the dinner table and the noise and laughter he filled our house with is gone.

In a few months my daughter leaves for college as well and it will be a sad day for us. We will miss her terribly and the house will feel empty without her.

I've enjoyed the teen years more than any part of my kids lives. We've made a nice transition from pure parenting and we've all become close friends. Like all kids, my teens are opinionated, noisy and a little edgy. My wife and I love the energy they bring to our family. I'll admit I've been lucky. Our kids are not sullen and angry. We haven't dealt with drugs, tattoos or failing in school. They are not perfect, but I love their company.

My kids are leaving the nest just like they are supposed to, but we miss them every day. If I were rich, I'd buy them houses next to mine so they could live their lives closer to mom and dad.