best transition ever: grandparenting
natalie today show

with Natalie caine

ANY HELP WILL DO IN EMPTY NEST

September 29, 2006 | by Natalie Caine | 2 Comments

Am I having separation anxiety? What the heck is happening to me?
A mom called this morning attached to her Kleenex box,

2 Responses

  1. joan Gelfand says:
    October 10, 2006 at 11:48 am

    It is now 6 weeks since I left my daughter at school and I have finally stopped crying and obsessing about it. I’m adjusting to my new life. A big wake up call about the benefits of this new life came this week when I fell on my steps and had to be taken to the ER. I had to spend 5 days resting – thoroughly. Resting is something I have not been able to do in 20 years!

    Reply
  2. Jane McCauley says:
    October 18, 2006 at 2:19 pm

    This weekend my daughter came home for the first time for Fall break. I was so excited! Her school is 120 miles away and we had the drive back together and her dad is away hunting so I imagined popcorn and late night movies and talks. But, as we got closer to home she was excited about visiting one of her teachers at her old high school. I dropped her off and said I would wait. She called from her cell and said she would like to go to lunch with Mrs. Ellis. I said fine, call me! When I got home, I thought this is weird, she’s in town but not home. The rest of the weekend went in a similiar direction, from going out with girlfriends and making phone calls and emails. We did get some time for lunch and a little shopping and her dad got back in time for us all to drive her back to school. I was left with a strange feelining . . . trying not to be defensive about her wanting to spend time with everyone and not just me. I’d better get used to it, I know, she’s a very social person, that’s what I like about her. But, this is a good example of how I think I’m doing so well adjusting to this transition, just to have a set-back. I know this will take a long time, maybe even a lifetime. I hope I do better when she comes home for Thanksgiving.
    Jane

    Reply

Join conversation

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