Empty nest syndrome reflections 17 Articles

by Donita Weddle

Today my last child left home. It was a long anticipated day for her, and for me. Still, as I had watched her pack up 19 years worth of material possessions in assorted boxes over the past week, it was just a little discon...read more

by Brenda Beightol

Looking at myself in the bathroom mirror this morning, I finally realized that there is no longer anyone attached to my apron strings. I'm not sure when they left, one by one, or all at the same time. The fact is that th...read more

by Heather Matheson

I kept waiting for the ache to begin. After eighteen years of being a mom, the "primary caregiver" to my amazing daughter - chauffeur, nurse, cheerleader at hundreds of volleyball games, shoulder to lean on - I expected ...read more

by Michelle Cannon

Rough is the road I travel. Always there is an obstacle; a pot hole or a dead end. Mostly it's gravel and my back hurts from the ride. My children have always been the beautiful scenery that distracts from the pains and bu...read more

by Peggy Lindgren

In this challenging role of parenting, I have said a few times that we spend the first twelve years of our child's life, holding on to them so tight and spend the next twelve years learning to let them go. Parenting f...read more

by Ginger Sanders

One of my daughters once told me that the paradox of parenting is that if you do your job correctly, someday your kids will all leave you. Apparently we did something right. Early in the morning on a bright summer day l...read more

by Barbara Donovan

Certain moments are meant to be. I can still remember the tiny newborn being held by hands that truly seemed like God's. "You have a beautiful baby girl," someone said. Her dark hair and big eyes were so striking that I...read more

by Robin Rathmell

Somehow it seems appropriate. There is a crispness in the evening air. The slightest whisper of color has already begun to softly kiss the leaves of the Bradford pears. The Dogwoods will follow, then the hills will come al...read more

by Linda Gallant Potts

Mother Journey Positive. From that first word of confirmation the journey begins. I hold my tummy close, longing to feel the shape, imagine the person growing inside. I thrill at the first flutter, cry tears of gratitud...read more

by Marcia Siekkinen

21st Century Empty Nest It's a bittersweet event when the last child of the family leaves for college. Never mind that your daughter is a sophisticated young woman with a black belt in karate. Never mind that you...read more

by Cheri Wilcox

The sounds of silence are a rare thing in my home, usually. I have been blessed with four daughters. Their ages are 18,19,20 and 21. My 18 year old is getting married one week from today and my 19 year old is getting ma...read more

by Sybil Sage

For 24 years our son lived with us, which not only assured that we'd see him regularly, but the house was filled with friends, music, baseball mitts and laundry. There was an excuse to buy chips and Entenmann's chocolate-c...read more

by Marie Tomas

Shortly after my daughter, Jennifer, moved into her new studio apartment, she realized she needed everything. Basic things like dishes, utensils. Pots and pans. a vacuum cleaner. Table and chairs. A hairdryer....read more

by Alisa Mantall

leaving the nest Current mood: sad All I ever wanted out of life was to be a successful mother and wife. I wasn't concerned about money. My family was poor growing up so I never had the chance to know what it was...read more

by Dr. Audree Tucker

"Where do we go from here now that all other children are growin' up. And how do we spend our lives if there's no-one to lend us a hand." - "Games People Play" by the Alan Parsons Project. I always thought these lyric...read more

by Joy Sunday

Babies First Baby! That was 32 years ago and 3 years later baby number 2 arrived. Now we have an empty nest. What do we feel? OK? Unsure? Worried? BUT Why? I don't think that I expected to have so many feeling...read more

by Michelle O'Donnell

Being forty something has been quite a new experience. My kids are grown and gone. They have their own lives to lead. I can only hope that I have given them a strong foundation on which to build upon. I was a stay at home ...read more