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WHY DON’T I COUNT IN THE EMPTY NEST?

September 13, 2006 | by Natalie Caine | 2 Comments

A dad sent this to me…….
I am a dad whose kids have all left home. I guess I could be the intellect guy who fixes problems and acts like I am ok, but I am not. My house is too quiet and I am lonely. There, I said it

2 Responses

  1. Robert says:
    September 18, 2006 at 11:34 am

    I understand very much what you’re saying and feeling. I am an empty nest Dad. Sending my youngest child off to college was much harder than I imagined it would be. The sadness and deep disorientation took me by surprise. I didn’t realize how many of the decisions I’ve made, both big and small, had the well being of my children at the center. And now it is quite disorienting and more than a little depressing to have that magnetic force which guided my compass move too far away. More to the point, as a man, when I express my feelings on this subject, most people are a little surprised but rarely supportive. One neighbor I mentioned this to moved his two fists in front of his chest as if to say “buck-up.” And that’s the extent of the support. I’m planning on meeting the a father or two of my daughter’s friends for a chat…but they all have younger children still at home and so I anticipate the feeling won’t run as deep. At any rate — I agree with you. Dad’s count too. Thanks for stating this so clearly.

    Reply
  2. Frank Godic says:
    October 2, 2006 at 4:12 pm

    I had tears in my eyes when I read your post. My son is a junior in college but I still cannot get over the emptiness in the house. My wife and I were very involved in his high school years, going to his sporting events, attending school functions, interacting with his friends. I wish I could go home today and see him sitting in his bed playing Xbox again and sya hey Greggy.

    Reply

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Natalie Caine, M.A. natalie@lifeintransition.org