Summer sweetness. A woman shared with me that what she wanted to change was being so hard on herself. I laid out photos. She chose two, one the sweetness of these nectarines, the other the hydrangeas. We wrote, side by side, silently about summer. Sharing her words that she wished were brilliant, AKA, the pusher,
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None of those photos are my dad. They are my dad’s imaginary best friends. I loved seeing him, just home from a match, club bag on arm and clicking sounding shoes, coming across the floor. Not his profession, his weekend obsession. If he wasn’t in a game, as he grew frail, he and I would
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Parents are proud and always wanting the best for their kids. Here is a list of “gifts” that parents want their kids to pack: 1, Ask yourself if you really need to spend money on that today?2. Will you call without my asking you to call? Will you text or email?3. Don’t tell me what
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A mom called today sharing her tears and excitement about her son heading to college in August. She is full of energy and late night exhaustion. She feels like a storm is coming but has no interest in preparing. Summer will pass quickly and then she will face emptiness. She asked me to remind her
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Our Empty Nest Support Group shares with you our creative new ideas. Read the list and giggle. I suggested we take 15 minutes to write about: What if you were one of the top ten in an upcoming field or expertise? What would that field be for you? You had a support team. You
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Did you speak up or let it be? A woman I worked with didn’t think it was ok for her to share with her kids that she wanted what she wanted, which was to make her own choices about whether to travel or stay home. She used the words, wanted what she wanted because that
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“EMPTY NEST: LIFE BEYOND PARENTING, NOW WHAT?” was an article I wrote, featured on www.MariaShriver.com . If you missed it, here it is for you. http://mariashriver.com/blog/2012/04/empty-nest-life-beyond-parenting-now-what What tip would you pass on to another parent? Natalie Caine M.A.Empty Nest Support ServicesLife In Transition, What’s Next?(800) 446-3310 or (818)
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Empty nesters, as well as all parents, wonder, am I over parenting? Once a parent, always a parent. Yes, your role changes as your children long for more independence and individuation and at the same time, they are uncertain about themselves. Bottom line is they do want you to be there for them and encourage
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You like predictability and a path. You got a call that stopped the familiar. After talking about the sudden change over and over, a good thing for you, you wept. Part of your talking with your friends was a way of feeling that anyone would be upset with that news. You wanted to feel part
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A woman shared with me that she was ready for a re-invention. She is competitive and wanted to be top in her new adventure. We met the other part of her, as you know I talk about the orchestra of selves that live within you and want to be heard. She met the one who
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Celebrate all the mothering you have given to others and that you have received over the precious years of your life. “It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously
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Parents are supposed to have the answers. I remember a child sharing that with me. He said, “Well they are adults and adults got it together.” Being an adult and human, doesn’t seem to connect when needed. Each of you has a part that needs nurturing and wisdom. You go blank or you go on
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Natalie Caine, M.A. natalie@lifeintransition.org