Sad, not depressed. A thread for a proper sook.

My kids are 18 and 15 (going on 25). My wife grew up in a house where the teenagers tended to congregate. Not in a lawless way but in a welcoming, 'well, you might as well do it somewhere safe' way. I sort of did too, but in a more covert, 'come and hide in our garage' kind of way. Consequently, our house has become a version of that and we've had a few parties now. We had my son's 18th here; there have been a few weekends where some of the friend group has ended up here after the pub etc. It's lovely*, tbh and I'm thankful my wife is so easy going and welcoming because, as much as I love it, it wouldn't have happened under my watch!

*there have already been a few occasions when I've fucked off upstairs and hidden and cursed the noise at 1am but I guess I'll take it.

That sounds great. Count yourself fortunate

I was a the grad I mentioned a few posts up last night, and the seven that were left from my class five years ago were great! Hadn't changed a bit. A couple of the girls immediately started making fun of the fact I was still using the same outdated camera. "Yes, I taught them well."

I don't know what a sook is. I know what it is in Scotland.

To chime in on the parenting stuff: I have one, 17, who is definitely getting ready to launch - they have a job* and bank accounts; they're narrowing down colleges; and there lots of teen activities for which I'm not allowed to know the secret handshake.

* = said job is working at a summer camp two hours away, so they'll be away for a month. It tugs at me, although i know it is the way of things. Good practice for next year.

Other kiddo is 13 and rather more like calzino's. He requires nearly constant supervision, and will never be able to live on his own.

He's also verging on being too big and too willful for us oldsters to handle. My wife and I are not looking forward to wrestling a 6', 150-pound toddler into a diaper at age 18. At some point more help will be needed, and some solution that isn't just us.

Sulk ended. I sympathize with what everyone is going through.