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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Too many changes

CyndeeW
CyndeeW

This is my daughter's first year of college. You know this is a day that is coming. So you try to live in the moment and enjoy each day. But at the same time your are trying to prepare yourself. I am so grateful that she is only 30 minutes away. I miss her everyday presence in the house. Waking her up for school, dinners, etc...Just having her here. On top of that I am in that change of life. Married 20. We now have to rediscover ourselves and find couple things again. I wonder if it is easier if you have more than one child? We know change has to come...but it isn't fun. 

doxielady
doxielady
Not so sure its easier with more than one child. My oldest left for college 2.5 years ago. I still get emotional when he starts back up and moves out. It was worse this year because he got an apartment and cleaned out his room. That just felt more final to me when I saw his room empty and knew he wouldn't be living here during the summers. I got a double whammy this year because my youngest just graduated and left for bootcamp about 6 weeks after the first cleaned out his room. I cried when he left, when I saw him for boot camp grad, and again when he left for A school. It's getting better but I still miss them. This is what we raised them to do, be independent and adventure. If you do your job right they move out but hopefully call and visit. So we did a good job, but it still hurts. So yes, we are kinda figuring out what to do as a couple too. We are working on it and I know it will get easier over time. I'm just taking it one day at a time and live from homecoming to homecoming with the kids.
CyndeeW
CyndeeW
Wow... that sounds hard. My daughter comes home a lot on the weekends if they don't have a game or she is working. So a lot of her stuff is still in her room even though we use it to store other stuff now. But her things are still there. I can't even imagine having nothing there like you are talking about. Man! that has to be so hard! We talk and text everyday. I am sure at some point that it will not be as much as time goes on? Maybe maybe not? You sound like you all did a great job. We pick my daughter up after her last game Thursday and she will be here for Christmas...Two weeks! We are thinking of bowling, taking a class together.?? Thanks for replying
kittysilver73
kittysilver73
My daughter is leaving for college in the new year and she is moving out of province. She is my only child. I am a single mother. I am having a hard time with this, more than I thought.
CyndeeW
CyndeeW
That has to so hard. I do not know if I could deal with that. Do you have friends going through the same thing that you can lean on?
Tryingtobebravewv
Tryingtobebravewv
This is so going to be me in August...married 20 years now what do we do..I'm already crying but not in front of her...because I'm so proud of her..but being 5 hours away...she has been my best friend and biggest supporters since she the day she was born...I don't remember what I was like before I was a mom...what hobbies I had and what made me happy...this is my second go down this road...my son moved out at 17 and the next year was such a hard experience...I'm trying to get myself some what emotionally ready this time...sorry for the long post...just feel like no one understands unless you have been through it