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 Nester

AKLegalShop
AKLegalShop

Hello folks! Greetings from Alaska. So I have four kids. Three boys and a girl. The oldest is 30 and a independent contractor in the lower 48. The daughter who is 28 is a RN. My middle boy who is 24 is in the construction industry in the lower 48. The youngest boy who is 19 has been with me, until last Friday. I mean up until then I was ready to throttle him. Now. He's gone. I am finding myself crying. For heavens sakes he is with his brothers not dead. I don't know why it feels like he is gone like that but it does. Is that normal? I have casework to do and it's hard when you think he's going to be bee bopping in the door and there is silence. Long sigh. No he is gone. 

Rosinagrace
Rosinagrace
My youngest just left home to live a few hours away - my life suddenly feels purposeless and I am lost - I wasn't expecting this !
MimsyT
MimsyT
I think it's very normal you are feeling this way. Regardless if you wanted to throttle him, he is your youngest and of course you are grieving that he has left home. My 17 year old leaves this fall for the east coast for college and we live in California. We are very close and I find myself crying at certain moments. I am happy for her and my sister will be an hour away from her on the east coast, but it's still hard to even think of her leaving.
yogi68
yogi68
Hello,
I too live and California.
My daughter went to college in CO.
She graduated this year. I was preparing myself that she would be working in CO and it’s not that far. I can drive there in 14 hours if I want to. Now she’s taken a job in Virginia and moving in with a boy she’s met.
She’s home for a week and then driving there.
She left with some friends today to go to Big Bear and I’m sobbing.
Her and I are very close.
ProudMomdesolate
ProudMomdesolate
I know exactly how you feel. My baby boy joined military and I find myself crying too. How unexpected emotions can take over us. I remember when the older girls left each time it was an adjustment and strange them not being around each day but I had my son so the impact was not as rough. Now, empty nest, wow, shock gets the best of us sometimes when we think we prepared ourselves but get surprised by tears and loneliness.