Empty Nesters Can Have Mixed Feelings About Their Situation

By Robert King


Raising responsible children is one of the main purposes in a parent's life. There are many ups and downs in doing this. At some point in time, the child will leave home and begin their own, productive life. This leads to the problems faced by empty nesters, one of which is the sadness and dread of facing this. Though it should be joyful, it is not always for some parents.

Parents can take pride in a child who is responsible and getting out on their own, to start their lives with the skills they have learned from their parents. Instead of being proud of the skills their children have learned, though, they are often sad to see their child leave. They need to understand that their child is going to benefit from what they have taught them.

It is important to acknowledge your feelings of sadness instead of pretending everything is okay. Though you may be happy for your child, you may still feel sadness. Acknowledge that and know it is normal. However, if you feel a very heavy sadness that you can't seem to be able to handle, don't hesitate to seek professional help.

You are now free to pursue things that are enjoyable to you. Try to think of things you enjoyed prior to having children. Though it would have been difficult with children to do some of these things, you can not pursue them. Think about these things, or other things you might enjoy.

It is now a good time to do something fun, and maybe a little crazy. Start a new hobby that you may have always wanted to do. Do something you would never have done when you had kids. Maybe you have always wanted to skydive or zip line. Now is the time. You can do it because you are not responsible for a small child if something happens.

Now is the perfect time to get busy on your career, doing things you could not do when you had kids. You can travel, or got to school, or whatever it takes to make you career a priority. You can even start a new career if you desire to do so. You have less family responsibility and can now focus on a new career.

Now is a great time to travel, either across country or internationally. You can even buy an RV and travel across the country, with no time restraints or career obligations if you are retired. Be sure to take identification of your age and retirement status. Many places offer special discounts and programs for those who are older and retired. You have no limits to what you can do now.

Downsizing is not a possibility for you, since you have no children living at home anymore. You can live in a beach house or condo, either in a luxurious one or a small one that is cheaper to save expenses. If you want to live on the beach, or in the mountains, you are free to do so. You no longer need as large a house, so can go for a smaller one that is more luxurious, maybe something you have always wanted.




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