Well, Fraidy... I don't know about knowing you that well, but I do know I've made that transition you're going through, too. There are some some seriously good things about it... silly things... fun things. It's like a whole new life, really... still connected to the past, but no longer dominated/controlled by it.
There are surprises too... as we figure out who we are, when we're no longer responsible for the raising, herding, feeding, grooming, learning how to train future humans -- our kids. You know how people say, If I only knew then, what I know now? Well, you do know now and there's nothing stopping you from trying new things or things you put aside or in a "closet", while changing diapers, burping, helping with multiplication tables, and wiping away tears and kissing boo-boos. One big surprise for me, is that I'm also not "just" the me that was devastated by the FOO-drama; not just the me that survived it. There's more than that to me but it got lost in the shuffle of homework papers, work projects, different hubbies, even in the torrent of "story" I discovered in therapy.
I'm feeling chatty & reflective (or in the mood for BS!!), so I'll post an update about me, on the "new phase" thread. But I am interested in what you discover now - what's of interest to you? what do you like now? is it the same as before kids? or different? Hey, I lived my whole life under my mom's description of me as shy and a loner! (just because I couldn't stand being around her, you know?) Turns out, I LIKE people!! I like getting to know them, too. And I'm not socially inept - just a little inexperienced and insecure about it. Nothing that practice can't fix.... LOL!
((((((('fraidycat)))))))