Empty Nests Support Group

Empty nest syndrome is a general feeling of depression and loneliness that parents/other guardian relatives feel when one or more of their children leave home. Empty nest syndrome has become more prevalent in modern times, as the extended family is becoming less common than in past generations, and the elderly are left living by themselves.

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/ Empty Nests Support Group

Being a home-body does not help!!!

ENMember
ENMember

My youngest of 3 moved in and out a lot after graduating high school, so the empty nest syndrome would hit me like a train each time she moved out again; like it was the first time all over again. I don't know when she last left... it wasn't something worth marking the calendar, but this "feeling" has been going on for years. I had my oldest when I was 17 and now I'm 50... I easily spent over half my life with my 3 girls "being my life"! Being a home body does not help! Well, here's hoping I get tired of bitching about it, and get out there and do something about it. And to think that "this/Christmas" was always my most favorite time of the year... now I realize it was only because of my kids that I enjoyed and loved it so much. It means nothing when it's just "you"!

maria718
maria718
Yes it's very lonely. Are your kids all far away? If so, it's really tough. It's like that for me too.
Kimberlyjs36
Kimberlyjs36
Yes, it is definitely challenging. I had my only at 19, he’s in college now. Visits occasionally and for holidays, I always feel sad for a few days after he leaves and then I settle back into being alone. I make a plan to increase self-care during that time. Maybe you can create a Christmas tradition now of doing whatever You want. I miss the Christmas holiday when my son was younger......but I don’t miss putting up and taking down that always lopsided tree. lol
RipleyMama
RipleyMama
Being home and alone is so hard! Especially this time of year with the kids gone, you must be so sad. My son moved out a little over a year ago and then COVID hit and then my job told us we all had to work from home. Being home alone for months at a time and missing my kid on top of that drove me into a terrible depression. I actually requested to be able to work in the office just to leave the house every day. I found that having a reason to take a shower and get dressed everyday helped get me out of my funk and gave me some purpose and something else to think about beside constantly missing my son. I'm so sorry for what you're going through. I hope you can find ways to get out of the house and do things. I wish I had advice to give on finding joy in the Christmas holiday despite your kids having moved out, but I'm still working on that challenge myself. I totally understand how you feel. You're not alone!
ENMember
ENMember
Thank y'all for the support. You would think after years I would get in the groove of something! I want to see the house decorated, but I know I will pull em out, make a mess, accomplish nothing, and maybe get em put back up just before it's time to yank em out again. I half ass do everything these days, so I opt to do nothing at all.
FloridaMom1973
FloridaMom1973
I know what you mean about the kids are what make the holidays meaningful. I won’t really care about the holidays, or decorating, if my kids aren’t around for them. I don’t identify with acquaintances who are so happy for their children to move out.