The Freshman Parents (The Empty Nesters #1)

Chapter 1

HEATHER

Sitting in her house in Edinburgh, Heather McVey takes a horrified gasp, minimises the chat and slams the laptop closed.

Is this what the world now has in store for her? People in far away places like America giving her parenting advice? Will this help her navigate this stressful next stage?

Currently, if Georgia wants something, anything, she stands in the middle of the kitchen and yells “Muuuum”, as if she can’t complete the simplest of tasks, opening a jar of Manuka honey, for example (And don’t let’s even get Heather started on the cost).

How will her daughter cope without Heather to support, cajole, and scaffold for her?

How will she shop, cook, clean, feed herself?

How will she stay safe and get to lectures on time?

How?

How??

Would engaging with an online group like this help?

Heather looks around the room. It will look huge once Georgia’s stuff is gone.

No discarded trainers on their way to the closet; no stray earrings to clog up the vacuum cleaner; no Post-its around the house bearing messages like the one from last month:

“Please, please, please, can you wash my junior school skirt for tomorrow? We need to wear our old uniforms on the last day! xxx”

That message had resulted in a three-hour purge of the loft; an emergency trip to the supermarket to purchase more laundry detergent and a late-night wait for the washer to complete its cycle. How would life even work with her gone?

Heather knows supporting Georgia through this critical first year will be tricky to do alone.

Claire, who’s been in her life since they were both kids themselves, is the only one of her friends who has children.

Her work colleagues—three pale, balding men well into their sixties—either didn’t have kids go off to university or paid them no attention when they did.

Not that Heather sees her colleagues in ‘real life’, working from home as she does.

So, who can she ask about this stuff? The curse of the single parent. You put all your hopes, love and energy into one person and then …

What if forums like the one she just shut down are the only way to negotiate this terrifying next step?

Heather looks skyward, ignoring the cobwebs entangling the light fitting and the thin plaster crack skating its way across the lounge ceiling, takes a deep breath and pulls her laptop back towards her.

“In for a penny,” her mother used to say …

Thanks for the add.

She types.

My daughter …

(There’s no way she's using that ridiculous acronym)

… is starting at John Logie College in September. What’s this about mattress toppers? Are they essential in a brand-new residence?

She moves her cursor to the blue arrow and clicks.

Post.

Within seconds, grey flashing dots appear. People are engaging already? Random strangers are giving her parenting advice at 3pm on a Thursday afternoon? Have forums like this existed all along?

Welcome to the gang.

Howdy. DS joining from Baltimore. Also John Logie College.

(Regular contributor)

OMG. Yes! A mattress topper is essential for comfort and protects the mattress (so you don’t need to replace at the end of the year if it gets damaged, stained etc)

Not to mention good to deter the bed bugs.

Bed Bugs??? No!!!!