What Exactly is Empty Nest Syndrome?
47264
Finance
Oct 9, 2007
kimkirmmsetoth
What Exactly is Empty Nest Syndrome?
Empty Nest Syndrome is a feeling of great loss or sadness when a child leaves home to go to college or just to get out on their own. If you are the child's mother or mother figure, you may experience a true sense of loss, loneliness or even worthlessness. You may feel your job is over (its not!) and you child doesn't need you anymore. (They do!) For some, not being involved in your child's everyday life and this is not just for mothers, but father too, may create a temporary identity crisis. You may find yourself depressed or anxious experiencing unaccountable tears or simply being highly emotional. You may wonder who you are and what are you worth, if not as a parent. Believe it or not, this can truly be a significant and positive transition and period of growth for you! Here are 5 secrets to ensure a healthy new life for you, without that much work: 1. Renew your marriage vows; if not literally then figuratively. It just might be time to remember why you are together and all the wonderful times you had before kids. Do a date night. Join a dance club or some activity that you both enjoy and can do as a couple. Now is the perfect time to re-create your partnership and enjoy the life you both deserve, together, without children. Ask your partner, set a plan together. How will you use this time together? Single? No problem! What can you do to enhance the relationships you do have, now that you have the time? Write it down. Now follow through. 2. Relish the time alone. You now have that peace and quiet that you have been wanting. Remember when they played their music too loud, their friends were too noisy and you wondered if there would ever be peace again? Well, there is, right now! What are you going to do? Read? Knit? Paint? How will you use your quiet time? Make a list. 3. Reignite or begin new friendships. Solitary pursuits are great, but you need people in your life also. Think about the friendships that might have gotten put on the back burner while you were raising your children. Contact them! Tell them you are much more available and wanting to renew the friendship you once had. You also might want to add new friends to the mix. Get yourself out there. Socialize. Sign up for classes. Learn a new language or learn more about computers. Classes are a great way to do something you love and meet new people at the same time. How are you going to branch out now? Make a list. 4. Broaden your horizons. Make your world bigger. When was your last trip or vacation? You don't have to go around the world, just get out of town. Expand your world view. Pick a place and go. Explore. Your children are making their world bigger just by leaving home. Now it's your turn. Where are you going? 5. Find something meaningful and of value. Raising your children has been a full time job. It's certainly been meaningful for both of you. Now they are gone and you need to replace that, you need another way to do your special work. What are your strengths? What are your skills? How can you use these to help others? Whether it's through church, community, or more global, your gifts are needed. What are your special gifts? How are you going to us them? Life is a journey. Not only are your children embarking on one, but so are you. Take a look at the big picture of your life. Having your children go off to lead their own lives is just one small piece. Consider this time of your life a step forward, a step in the right direction. You now have your very own life, so go lead it!
Kim Kirmmse Toth is a certified life coach. She works with baby boomers on the many transitions faced including the non-financial side of retirement planning. She may be contacted at: kim@myretirementbydesign.com or at her website: http://www.myretirementbydesign.com
send email to kimkirmmsetoth
Write a Review
Add to My Favorite
Refer it to Friend
Report Article
Other links owned by this user
All the way from planning what you want, to menus, to ideas for decorating with ease, to sharing responsibilities...to make for a time together that is unforgettable!
Category:
I hear so many folks in my generation talk about how they can't even begin to think about retiring, while others have already retired. Those ahead of us have much needed information for the rest of us. The following is some of what I have learned from tho
Category:
If someone were to ask you questions about how you were going to fund your retirement, really fund your life after your regular working pay check stops, how would you answer?
Category:
You hang out for a few months or maybe an entire year and then surprise! You're bored, you have no real responsibilities and you want some, you've played every golf course in town and you simply need something new. You need a challenge. You want to feel l
Category:
Does this even seem possible? Well, think again! It seems Mid-Life and Crisis always go together but since Baby Boomers have a knack of doing things differently I would suppose you can do this differently also. Just like you approach Retirement (since no
Category:
Ladies, please do not take these lightly. These may not be for the faint of heart but they are extremely important. There is a great many articles on this subject, but here are 10 reasons in a nutshell for you to pay attention to NOW!
Category:
If you had a choice in your life between having friendships or money, what would you choose?
Category:
The Pre-Retirement stage is the period of time you have to plan and take a look at what you might want down the road. Let's just say you're 5 or 10 or 15 years or so away from retirement. Don't rest on your laurels and let the years fly by. Now is the tim
Category:
Empty Nest Syndrome is a feeling of great loss or sadness when a child leaves home to go to college or just to get out on their own. Here's more about it and what you can do when you experience it...
Category:
So, this is the good news, bad news. Deal with it or fix it. You get to choose! A report just came out from The Associated Press stating that although we are living longer, there are 41 other countries that are living longer than we are! If we are suppose
Category:
Ways to ensure you are on track in your non-financial retirement planning
Category:
Other links at Finance
Most persons whose lives fall short of their great possibilities do so for lack of imagination, and lack of ideas. Imagination has a great power over the mind. Reading this article will help you to learn from what's around you and expand your mind.
Category:
You read the title of this article correctly, the law of attraction will destroy your life. It will tear you apart from head to toe, destroy your life, and make you as miserable as a fat kid in dodge ball. Of course the law of attraction will destroy your
Category:
People find it very easy to get into debts but the same cannot be said about getting out of them. Once one gets trapped into the debt pit, they just seem to go on accumulating. Therefore, it is essential to take steps to get rid of the debts before they s
Category:
Author shares how even sportsman who makes a commitment to impact positively in his life, can create positive impact to his life.
Category:
Resources offered by the federal government can assist you in starting your home-based business.
Category:
Site Sponsor
Directory Statistics
Articles: 68285
Categories: 501
Yahoo Entertainment
