Parents are trying to prepare for the big hug and the silent house but most know you can
My daughter has always lived in this house. In two weeks she will be a freshman living in a dorm far away. I will be here not hearing her voice, footsteps, or seeing her jump up on the kitchen counter as I mix brownies for the school picnic. This is the opening of a mother
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A mom sat in my office sobbing. She talked about the change in the family with no children at home. She remembers the fight the week before her son left for college and how painful the words stuck in her gut.
Right now parents are heading to college orientations and sadly counting the days until they hug goodbye at the dorm. Others are preparing for weddings, grandchildren, children leaving for grad school, jobs, and the service. Some parents are realizing they won
Last week our group was concerned about how teenagers are growing up. They know the struggles and joys they had with their kids. Not invited to parties, teased, feeling fat and ugly, sarcastic, shut down emotionally, over-eating, moody, getting into college, perfectionism, lack of sleep, coloring their hair, body piercing , tattoos, boyfriends and girlfriends
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1. Have someone to talk with who is in or has been in the empty nest 2. Make a plan to get out of the house like going to a bookstore and joining a book club
In my groups and phone consultations I think you too would relate to the current cry: THEY
I cried weeks before showing up at my daughter
Priorities needs and values wind through even a closed door when empty nesters deal with aging parents. Mary shared her tears and little girl self while we had our phone consultation. Her uncle died, her mother
A month ago during an interview lead by a journalist questioning what is the story with empty nesters she said,
Natalie Caine, M.A. natalie@lifeintransition.org