Empty Nest Syndrome

For many parents empty nest syndrome occurs most often in October, well after children have left for university.  When the kids have left home, parents may feel sadness, loneliness, emptiness, guilt, and uselessness.

Although my eldest went to uni then returned after 6 months and my daughter was at uni for 3 years, I always had the youngest at home, so there was always his friends coming and going in the house, ,making our home still feel “alive”.  

Within the last 2 years my eldest son moved in with his fiancée, my youngest moved in with his girlfriend and on Saturday my daughter will move in with her boyfriend. 

My years of being Mum are now over, creating the most disturbing identity theft of my life. Along with my divorce, my 28 years of being a wife are over too.

Now the busy years are over!  I have invested so much time with my kids that when my daughter leaves this week I don't know how to deal with a household of one!  The years of shopping for the special treats each child enjoyed are over. Now my fridge is bare and I’m at a loss.

So how can I put your life back together and learn to cope with the stress of empty nest syndrome? Ignoring the problem is not the answer.

I am going to learn to experience a sense of power and control in my own life. By facing the situation straight on, I will not compromise feelings.  I will attempt to not to avoid the pain, the confusion, and change, but to deal with it in a healthy way. This is a time of adventure, discovery and creativity.

I’m going to play the music I like each day; be creative with talents and abilities, and find a reason to laugh each day. It only takes five minutes of laughter to improve blood-vessel function!

Studies also show that pet ownership lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, not to mention health insurance rates! Thank goodness I am sharing my new empty nest with 2 four-footed friends who I hope will ward off depression. I will enrol creative writing seminar I always wanted to take. Read the books I’ve been putting off for years.

I also recognise that I’m blessed with a wonderful group of friends to support me in this transformation .

I’ve also planned a holiday to somewhere I’ve always wanted to go.

This could be the happiest and richest time of my life. So I am living with intention  for love, joy, laughter and success!