with Natalie caine

March 13, 2006 | by Admin2 | No Comments

by Christine Studor | submitted on March 13, 2006

I am nearly the first “school year” as an empty nester. My oldest daughter left for a teaching job in the state “next door” and my younger daughter is in her first year of college in that same state although the girls are still an hour or two from each other.

As I reflect upon this “year” I believe it has been the most emotional year of my life and I believe my husband feels the same way. As one of your comments on the web site said, “You can never be prepared until the reality hits in and you are living it.”

My hopes are to become the best support mother I can be without my daughters feeling I’m trying to “control” what they do. I often spend time thinking of how to best put things when I know I need to talk to them about something going on in their lives. I want them to come to conclusions and make judgments based on what they have figured out for themselves and hope they will consider my comments as input and not like I’m treating them that they can’t think for themselves.

I will always miss them not being children at home but want to hurt less from their absence and I am slowly getting there.

I want to write a book now that I have more time to myself, maybe a mystery since I love them, maybe some short stories. This has been coming to the forefront of my thoughts lately that I might finally have the time to do this!”

I think now after a year has nearly passed, I will begin to think about some of the things I may have put on hold and try and go after these things more.

I don’t want everything to be centered on empty nesting emotions either but I know I have a ways to go yet. I am working on some projects as a volunteer in our nearby National Park and I will continue to be involved in that.

Some day I hope to have grandchildren though, to share love and experience with, this may or may not happen.

For now though, this book thing has come into my head and I think it’s going to be a go, watch for me on your bookstore shelves.

HOPE (by the way, I picked this name because I think anyone can survive anything if there’s hope on the horizon.) Thanks for asking for our input, HOPE”