Well I think too much is made of “empty nest” syndrome.
I remember my parents being gleeful when I left and I understand it completely.
I graduated from High School in January of 1977, at age 16.5, but Mom made me stay for my Senior Year. ‘Oh, Honey! You’ll regret not graduating with your friends...’ Blah, Blah, Blah. I spent a lot of time in Study Hall, reading, that semester. It was a small school and I had taken EVERY course offered and still graduated early. I moved out two minutes after the Graduation Ceremony. And I don’t know a single kid I went to HS with anymore, LOL! Joined the Army at 18, and the rest, as they say, is History!
Dad always said the thing he liked best about me was that I left home early and never came back, LOL!
I did come back ONCE for about a week, when my then-husband was in the Navy and left for 6 months on a West Pacific Tour. Then, I was able to get into military housing. I had a nice three bedroom condo all to myself (and my cat) for all that time. Heaven!
Dad WAS kidding. He was always proud that I was a motivated self-starter. My SISTER more than made up for it with her shenanigans. I ended up caring for Dad for the last 15 years of his life.