As summer winds down and the end of August is upon us, many couples are facing a new reality – -their kids are grown and the last child has left home. Empty nest syndrome occurs with the feelings of grief, sadness and loss when your last (or only) child leaves home. Are you struggling with an empty nest?
Parents spend almost 2 decades raising their children to be productive and contributing members of society. While parents are excited, and proud, for their child’s next phase of life, that doesn’t stop the worrying and questioning of what-ifs.
Wave of Emotions When Your Child Leaves Home
Many parents struggling will feel profound sadness when they are faced with their empty nest. The emptiness of their new life can feel overwhelming. Waves of sadness, loss, and loneliness are all common when the last child leaves home.
This emotional rollercoaster can have some parents withdrawing from their normal routines and activities. It can be difficult to adjust to your new role in parenting a child that is no longer under your roof.
Luckily, with the passing of some time, weeks for some, maybe months for others, you may start to feel at ease over the reduced responsibilities without kids in the home. You may begin to feel a new sense of freedom.
After a little more time, you may find yourself in a new pattern of life involving renewed relationships and activities.
An Empty Nest may Highlight a Struggling Marriage
If you had been having problems in your marriage prior to your kids leaving, there is a chance that these problems may be brought to the forefront with the kids gone.
Many couples “stay together for the sake of the kids”. These couples are faced with a new reality when their kids are out of the house. Should they stay or should they go?
Some couples may not have realized that their marriage was struggling prior to having an empty nest. However, without the “distractions” of raising kids, these couples discover there is little left of their relationship.
If you’re an empty nester, this may be a great time to reconnect with your spouse. Start dating again. Bring back the romance that you once shared. Start spending quality time together and see if you can rekindle what you once had.
If you are struggling as an empty nester, or if you are struggling in your marriage, counseling can help. If you have any questions or would like to get to know us a little better, please call (724) 503-6670 or email us at admin@inthenowcounseling.org.
