Dear Natalie,
It’s funny … I’ve been in such a funk and these past two days it has gotten much worse. I know I’m suffering from empty nest syndrome and I’m feeling lost. I can’t seem to make myself do much except putts around. So I Googled “empty nest” and found your site.
My circumstances are slightly different, however. Our son has not left our nest. He’s only just graduated eighth grade. I know it’s still a transition time. He went away to a camp for two weeks, and that’s when it all started to hit me. I realized that it’s just around the corner that he will be going off on his own. I missed him so much while he was at camp!! Since he has been back (less than a week now), he’s never home. He doesn’t like to hang out here with his friends, and he doesn’t spend much time here at all. I miss him and I feel like I’ve already lost him.
So I’m sad and feeling lonely. I realize I need to fill that void in my life a little. And I do realize that things will change a little bit when school starts in a few weeks. But I’m also scared for him. He’s not interested in fall sports, and I’m worried he won’t get involved in anything and go the wrong direction.
I work from home, and this summer is particularly slow, which doesn’t help matters.
I’m disappointed, too, that he doesn’t hang out and bring friends around. I think that would be fulfilling for me, too. And I’m also disappointed that he won’t be involved in sports for myself, too, for the adult/student social aspect.
Having been in counseling quite a bit in my life, I know all the things that I should do to help myself through this time, but I’m still feeling stuck in this funk. I feel like I’m grieving. You know … you know it will get better, but you just can’t help it right now. I just want to curl in a ball and cry. (I know it sounds like depression, but I’ve had that under control w/ medication and counseling).
Anyway, your site helped, and writing this e-mail has helped just a little. Maybe it will help someone else who feels like I do to read my story.
Thanks,
Brenda
Natalie Caine, M.A. natalie@lifeintransition.org
I feel the same way like I am grieving. My son left for college and I have a freshman in high school. Soon he will be gone to!
My only son has left home for college he is the survior of three pregnacy , and our only child im havinf a hard time I cry at the drop of a hat and has this empty feeling and loss in my stomach. It is like i’m grieving
Hi I am having such a a hard time we took my daughter off to school yesterday and I havent eaten in 2 days .My girls are all i have in life how did I let that happen ,no family and very little close friends near by ,now I just sit and cry ,I am trying to pull it together but its hard please if you can suggest anything. Thanks Kathie lost on Cape Cod
Kathie,
Boy can I relate! I’m almost 49 years old, never been married and a single mom of a junior in high school. My mom had a stroke and I moved her back to ND to a better nursing home and have lost almost all touch with other family members. I could go on and on….just wanted to say, “Hang in there!” It’s gotta get better!