There are many reasons why parents are excited about their teenagers growing up and moving out. For me, one thing that I am really going to enjoy about my kids moving out onto their own will be visiting them and spending the afternoon or evening in their place doing something with them like watching sports on TV.

While I’m there, I will go into their cupboards, get a glass and fill it to the top with milk or juice or whatever they are keeping in their fridge at the time. I will then drink precisely half of the beverage in the glass and leave the half full glass (or half empty depending on your perspective) somewhere within their apartment or house. Maybe on the counter… maybe on the table… maybe on the living room carpet next to the sofa. Basically, anywhere except inside the dishwasher or the kitchen sink. 

Throughout the afternoon or evening, I will repeat this process over and over until I’ve used all of their glasses and have to move on to their hodgepodge set of random coffee mugs. And then I will do the same with their coffee mugs, leaving them partially full of liquid and strewn wherever I absentmindedly please. 

It will be hard for me to contain my wicked giggle but I will do it until I’ve used every dish that could potentially hold a drink, even the measuring cups. And then, I will bid them good evening and head home… leaving them to clean up after me for a change.