Back To School, My Countdown To A Really Empty Nest!

Shopping at the mall, watching all of the families with young children brought back memories of back to school shopping when my kids were young. They look so happy, unaware of any changes the future might bring. Did we look this innocent and happy and when exactly did we change? Could other people see it before we realized it ourselves?

I just experienced my last back to school shopping trip! Now that my last "child" is entering their senior year of high school I am looking into a future not shared with a husband happily reconnecting after raising a family together, but an uncertain future, I guess of reconnecting with myself. 

We are all leaving home to start new futures. It will be strange, I've never lived alone. At least now I am free to choose where I want to live, what my home will be and what I will put into that home without having to ask anyone's opinion. 

I'm sure it will be strange for my kids too, they will not have a "home" that they grew up in to come back to. Instead hopefully it will be a better home, with new memories to be made and shared as we all start our new lives together, apart!

Real grownups at last!

The Narcissist: A Field Guide

I didn't know he was a narcissist when we met on the beach so many years ago. I really didn't even realize it until after he moved out about 30 years later. I wish someone would have warned me but narcissists are a sneaky bunch and good at camouflage so they can easily appear to be someone they are not.

My list for recognizing a narcissist comes from years of living with one, the hard part it that when you are in the middle of the relationship it is very difficult to realize it. Listening to friends was one of my downfalls as they always tried to make me feel better by offering good explanations for what I was experiencing.

So, If you are speaking to them and their eyes glaze over, they could be a narcissist!

If you go to restaurants and you can never accept the first table you are offered, they could be a narcissist!

If you have something bad happen to you and it doesn't seem to phase them, they could be a narcissist! 

If they do something nice and expect to be thanked too many times, they could be a narcissist!

If they fish for compliments too many times, they could be a narcissist!

If you say something about them that they don't like and they freak out, they could be a narcissist!

If they say things about you to elevate their own self worth, they could be a narcissist!

If they can never see your side of an argument, they could be a narcissist!

If you feel they never "have your back", they could be a narcissist!

If you constantly feel stressed and not yourself anymore, they could be a narcissist!

If you start thinking you are the crazy one, congratulations you have identified a narcissist!