| When you've spent all your time, attention and | | | | friends and family around you, try spending more |
| money devoted to raising children for twenty to | | | | time with them. Go out on dates with your spouse |
| thirty years or more, life can seem more than a little | | | | for instance, or organize outings, parties or get |
| empty once those kids are grown up enough to | | | | togethers for friends and family. |
| leave home. There's actually a feeling of emptiness, | | | | Also think hard about your personal likes and dislikes. |
| loneliness, and loss that's known as empty nest | | | | Now that your children are grown and gone, it's much |
| syndrome. Many parents have a difficult time getting | | | | more easy for you to take up new or old hobbies, |
| used to the children being gone, and sometimes it | | | | try something different, and explore various interests. |
| can take awhile to adjust. | | | | Think about when you were younger, before you |
| Empty nest syndrome is often more difficult for | | | | settled down to have a family. What did you like to |
| Moms than it is Dads, but both men and women | | | | do with your free time then? Did you have dreams, |
| experience the feeling of loss. In most cases, Mom | | | | goals and ambitions that had to be set aside when |
| and Dad aren't quite sure what they're supposed to | | | | you started your family? |
| be doing in life now that they're no longer raising kids. | | | | Think too, back along the last twenty to thirty years |
| It's perfectly natural to feel a bit sad or depressed | | | | as you were raising your children. Did you ever dream |
| during this period, but there are also things you can | | | | about doing something else? Did you ever wish you |
| both do to help yourself deal with empty nest | | | | had the time or money to devote to a specific |
| syndrome. | | | | hobby? Maybe you've always longed for a trip to an |
| First and foremost, you need to allow yourself a | | | | exotic land, or dreamed of writing a book you |
| period of rest. When the kids first leave home, there | | | | started as a teenager. |
| is often a whirlwind of activity involved. Maybe they | | | | Doing something new is always fun and exciting. If |
| just finished graduating high school and are now off | | | | you feel like you're not yet ready to make any |
| at college, a new job, or in the military. Getting them | | | | major changes in your life or lifestyle though, think |
| ready for those new life experiences was a very | | | | about taking small baby steps. There are plenty of |
| busy period, and you may be both physically and | | | | hobbies that can be done right at home for instance, |
| mentally exhausted. | | | | such as sewing, gift basket making, and |
| Once you've had time to rest, relax, and enjoy your | | | | scrapbooking. In fact, scrapbooking may be an |
| quiet time though is when things can get the most | | | | excellent transition activity for you to do. You'll be |
| depressing. The house may start to seem too big | | | | able to dig out all the kids stuff you've been |
| and quiet, and you may start wondering what in the | | | | collecting over the years, and start to put it into |
| world you're supposed to do with yourself now. | | | | some sort of organizational format that can be |
| The answer is to try and get active. If you have | | | | enjoyed for years to come. |