So here I am, at the precipice of being an empty nester, in just four short days. I of course knew this time was coming. I have obviously known it. I guess I just didn’t know what it would feel like to be standing here, now. Since I am a classic bucketer, stuffer, sequester of emotions, I thought I would do a little searching. Not soul searching but searching for other people’s experiences and helpful advice. 😊This was born from a desire to make an intentional effort to avoid the harsh realities of how stuffing my emotions seems to spur on various physical reactions. These are a few things that I found interesting, aside from all the funny YouTube shorts and videos that people have posted over the years. Comedy is a nice relief, but I’m not sure if it helps the little hurt part of my heart.

1) Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials suggest that communicating with your family, setting expectations, and finding healthy distractions can make life easier once your children leave home. They emphasize that it’s normal to feel a sense of loss and uncertainty during this period of transition.

2) wikiHow provides 12 ways to cope with empty nest syndrome, including allowing yourself to grieve, keeping yourself busy, and connecting with friends and family. They note that empty nest syndrome is a temporary, transitional phase that typically only lasts for a month or two.

3) Healthline offers advice on navigating the sadness, loneliness, and other emotional distress you may experience after your kids leave home. They highlight the importance of finding new hobbies and interests to fill the void.

It would seem thatconnecting with others, setting goals, taking up new hobbies or careers, reconnecting with your partner, practicing self-care, focusing on the positive, keeping in touch with your child, savoring life, and practicing self-compassion are healthy distractions and possibly help you step foot into a yet unknown way of life. Possibly it will harken you back to a time before you lost your youth and sacrificed your vigor to raise children.

All this to say, I obviously must feel the feels, but I want to keep learning, connecting and doing until the new normal sets in comfortably. I wonder occasionally if I would feel this way were my youngest to be heading to college a state or three away, vs, a 10.5-hour flight overseas. I imagine, that’s a solid probably, however, with less concern over visits and time zone thwarted connections. He did college, got the degree, all while living from home. It’s time for him to realize his dream. I mean… HE DID IT, he got there, this is the chance of a lifetime. I am so proud of him, and I am really happy that he gets to do this. Except for this one little thing. My heart. Oh well, they say that you sacrifice much for your children. The sacrifice continues.

I’d love to hear from any of you who have pointers or suggestions on ways to ebb the empty nest syndrome/feeling. I know that mostly it will just take time. I did sign up for a welding class so that’s something! Until next time, happy living and sweet dreaming!