Many teens entering the last years of high school cannot wait to get out of the house and start living their own lives.
I wonder how many of them don’t really comprehend how their absence will affect their parents? I know I didn’t really, especially since I had a younger sister who would be there once I was gone!
Empty nest syndrome is a real, tangible thing… leaving some moms and dads beside themselves in terms of “what do I do now?” As Life’s Too Short host Melanie Cole, MS, describes it, it can feel like emotional upheaval.
Melanie’s guest, Samantha Lewis, Life Coach & Corporate Wellness Facilitator, says the time to start preparing for empty nest syndrome is long before your kids fly, fly away.
The core reason the syndrome exists is because too often parents invest their time and energy in their kids and only their kids. What’s the next milestone? What is their next project? Even daily concerns like getting them to soccer practice on time leaves little time for mom and dad to enjoy the things they used to do before babies came along.
Samantha advises taking a deep look at what brings you happiness. Who were you before you were a mother or a father? Discover ways you can connect back to that person. She suggests adding things into your life now that you can continue to enjoy once your kids are gone. Find a little bit more kindness, caring, and time for YOU.
By doing this, you’re also modeling behavior to ensure your kids are well-adjusted humans who can live full, diverse lives.
She also suggests viewing an empty nest as something that will eventually come — and preparing for it instead of avoiding it.
If you’re already facing an empty nest and you haven’t taken these early steps, there is still hope. Reconnect with friends and don’t be afraid to ask for help and support. If you previously didn’t work while your kids were at home, you might find fulfillment in a part-time job or via volunteering.
Sylver Lyning 