Dealing With Empty Nest Syndrome
Aus Salespoint
Author: Vernita Dawkins
When you first become a parent, it is hard to picture the time when your kids will move out on their own. Parents get so involved in bringing up their babies, from their precious infant days to the exciting teen years, that it seems like the kids will always be a part of their homes. However, the days pass too quickly into years, and before long your kids are ready to fly away from the nest. After spending many precious years together, many parents are likely to feel emotional at this moment in their lives. In order to prepare yourself, you need to have a plan to help you adjust to this major transition.
Before sobbing or celebrating, whichever is your tendency when you first come home to an empty nest, remember that you will always be a parent. While the kids are now beginning to spread their wings and chart their course in life, they will still want you to be a part of their lives. While your children are babies and young kids, they need you almost constantly. You must teach them, train, them, guide them, and discipline them. After they reach adulthood, the relationship transitions. They are still likely to come to you for advice and counsel. You will notice, though, that they will even teach you some things. The relationship can move away from the parent-child relationship of their childhood toward a friendship, a very close and beautiful friendship if neither of you seeks to be controlling.
You and your spouse were once an entity that existed without children. While initially spouses had priority, the arrival of kids changed all that. With your children gone, you can rediscover the joy of spending time with your spouse. You can plan events together that you ordinarily wouldn’t have been able to do. This is the time for you to relax in each other's company. Stay up to watch the sunrise and then sleep until noon. The choice is yours. Don’t undervalue this chance to rebuild the friendship with your closest friend. Even if you lost your spouse, you can still take this chance to meet new people and reconnect with friends you haven't seen in years.
Parents often have to place their children’s needs ahead of their own. It’s finally time to put yourself first. You no longer have to put your own needs on the back burner. Finally, you have the chance to do everything you want to do. You can take a trip to a foreign country that you always wanted to visit. If a new pursuit tickles your fancy, you can take up a hobby. No matter what it is, you can devote some time to making it happen.
Don't launch yourself into a totally new world of irrevocable changes. Take time to get used to the way it is now before you make any huge changes. Feel free to stay in regular touch with your children and help them get used to their new lives. There is plenty of time to pursue new hobbies and adventures after both you and your children have grown accustomed to the living situation. Savor the new experiences and joys this aspect of life can bring. You prepared your child for life. Job well done! The time has come for a new, exciting chapter in your life. Seize the day!
