Half Empty Nest

I am happily married to my husband "Mr. Bird", a Software engineer for almost 20 years now (we are celebrating our anniversary this August!).  I have a daughter "Princess Bird" who is a freshman in college (living on campus, away from home) and a son "Bird-Boy" who is 12, and in Middle School.  This is the first year that I am truly experincing what having a "Half-Empty Nest" is like.  It has its ups and downs, and has been a roller-coaster experience.  Lots of 'Mommies" share their experiences of having young children, but I haven't found a lot of information about "What to expect when your kid goes off to college and your other kid is a 'tween' and doesn't want to hang out with you either."  I hope my story will shed some light on the experince of having a close family split for the first time when their oldest goes off to college, as well as what its like to have two children who pretty much raised as "only children" since they were 6 1/2 years apart.  Its an interesting story and an on-going saga.....but I love it and wouldn't change a thing.....Except maybe for having a "Half-Empty Nest."