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Pandemic Empty-Nest Syndrome at AARP

May 28, 2021 | by lheidel | No Comments

Natalie was a featured expert in the AARP article “Do You Have Pandemic Empty-Nest Syndrome?“

Here’s an excerpt:

Natalie Caine, founder of Empty Nest Support Services, says she’s seen a recent “wave” of parents seeking help with the readjustment to post-pandemic family life.

Caine says one key for parents struggling to adjust to an empty nest is working through the deeper feelings their child’s departure may evoke, like a sense of purposelessness or loss of identity. She also notes that it’s not uncommon for empty nesters to have realizations that go beyond the parent-child relationship, like reevaluating their marriage or career.

Addressing challenging feelings through therapy, a support group or with a trusted religious leader can be helpful, she says. And don’t forget the small stuff either: Something as simple as stocking meals in your freezer if you know you won’t feel like cooking after a college drop-off can go a long way toward easing the initial transition.

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