How do you cope with empty nest syndrome?

[luvmyrottie]

After 24 years of raising kids, the last one is about to leave. She goes off to college in August, but has decided to move back to Arkansas for the summer. She wants to leave in 2 weeks, after we get back from her brother's college graduation. I've always had a house full of kids and when we moved to Texas I only had her and it was hard. Then she started making friends and the house was filled up more. Now she is leaving and I'm not sure what to do with myself. I got a new puppy, so that takes up some of my time. I'm very bipolar, so it's hard to have a steady job, so that's out. I want to volunteer at Habitat for Humanity, but the closest branch is 30 miles away in Corpus Christie. I'm still going to look in to that. Anyone else out there that has dealt with this? How did you do it?

[prayercloth sis]

Not there yet...but I will be praying for you...I get lonesome when htey are all at work & school...17, 16 and 10...

I have decided to go back to school...when this happens.

Great things like scrapbooking photos...planting lots of flower beds and learning to build web sites are just a few things I do now to keep busy...

and i love going to thrift stores...

God Bless

Rhonie

[NotMyOwn]

That's a good question. I don't have an answer yet because my turn is yet to come, possibly by the end of summer.

[kiwisongbird]

Oh, my boys are never going to leave home, they'll all get married and bring their wives to live with us! ;) ;) :eek:

[luvmyrottie]

Oh, my boys are never going to leave home, they'll all get married and bring their wives to live with us! ;) ;) :eek:

I tried to convince them of that. It didn't work. lol I even pointed out how much they would save on rent! Still no takers.

[NotMyOwn]

Your kids should have a desire to go out on their own. It is a natural occurance and shouldn't be discouraged. For me, I just need to keep myself occupied doing things such as going to the gym and playing softball. When winter comes, that will be harder to deal with because there is less to keep me occupied.

[kiwisongbird]

... and when you keep on going to the gym there will eventually be less of YOU to keep occupied as well!!! :) :) :)

[luvmyrottie]

... and when you keep on going to the gym there will eventually be less of YOU to keep occupied as well!!! :) :) :)

lol that's true! I've talked about joing Curves, but just haven't gotten over there yet. I talked to my shrink the other day about how to cope and he recommended that I take some classes either at the community college or some jewelry making classes, since that is an interest of mine. I'm looking into the jewelrey making classes. That would be short-term committment, which is good for me.

[imperfect]

Yes I have. My kids are 18 and 22 and due to a divorce and relocation I have been an empty nester overnight for five years.
I admit. The first two years was difficult to adjust to. I cooked too much food. Had no real friends. Even my walk was quite shaky.
But then I started rebuilding and now I LOVE LOVE this stage of my life. I love everything about it. I love still being a mom but not picking up after them. I love being more a mentor to them. I love not worrying about them. I love my new friends. I love my new home. I most especially love being able to concentrate my extra time on my walk with God and helping others.
I also took up guitar and revisited my lost love of writing (you'd never tell it by this wretched post).
So reinvent yourself. Cher and Madonna did. So shall we!

[luvmyrottie]

I'm actually starting to find the positives here. We were able to go away for the weekend and not have to worry about kids. (just the dog, lol) And I don't have to stay up at night waiting for someone to make curfew. And my grocery bill has gone down and it's much easier to keep the house clean! I'm even turning my daughter's room into a workroom and getting back to my jewelry making. I haven't done anything with that for over a year! And I'm so excited to get back to it! I ordered a bunch of materials over the weekend and I got all my stuff out of storage and started getting it organized. It's so exciting! This is a new phase in my life and I'm starting to realize that it's a gift from God, not a curse. It's a chance to find out who I am, instead of being just "mom". I'm excited!

[imperfect]

This is a new phase in my life and I'm starting to realize that it's a gift from God, not a curse. It's a chance to find out who I am, instead of being just "mom". I'm excited!

AMEN!!!! Welcome to the club. It rocks!

[ruepickle]

vicki, you could invite me to come live with you. . . ;)

i miss you tons woman!

i found my graduation pic the other day, and i'm writing a piece about it, but it is still in the rough draft process, and then i'll have to shred it to bits a few times, then give it to a friend to shred it to bits, and then i'll have to rewrite it

but, when i get a final copy, i'll send it to you and make you cry ;)

*super huge flying pickle hugs*

do you still have my octopus?

[ausgirl]

Have you heard the Michael W. Smith song from his Stand cd - How to say goodbye. I learned recently that it's about when his daughter went off to college and how difficult it was. Now that songs makes me a bit teary! Dads and their girls get me everytime!

Here's the words:

Tell me when the time we had slipped away,
Tomorrow turned to yesterday and I don't know how.
Tell me what, can stop this river of tears,
It's been building up for years,
For this moment now.

Here I stand, arms open wide
I've held you close, kept you safe till you can fly.
Tell me where the road ahead is going to bend,
And how to harness up the wind and how to say goodbye.

Tell me why, why does following your dreams,
Take you far away from me and I knew it would.
Tell me how to fill the space you left behind,
And how to laugh instead of cry
And how to say goodbye.

Here I stand, arms open wide
I've held you close, kept you safe till you can fly.
Tell me where the road ahead is going to bend,
And how to harness up the wind and how to say goodbye.

[luvmyrottie]

vicki, you could invite me to come live with you. . . ;)

i miss you tons woman!

i found my graduation pic the other day, and i'm writing a piece about it, but it is still in the rough draft process, and then i'll have to shred it to bits a few times, then give it to a friend to shred it to bits, and then i'll have to rewrite it

but, when i get a final copy, i'll send it to you and make you cry ;)

*super huge flying pickle hugs*

do you still have my octopus?

Yes, I still have your octopus. It's in the drawer by my bed. and I yesly want to read whatever you write! That was an awesome weekend. I wish I could have stayed longer, but it was a long drive home. I would love to come up and visit you again, or have you come down here. I would love to take you to the beach and hang out. We've been thru a lot, you and me, and I'm a better person for knowing you, Chickie Rue. I love you so much!!!

[NotMyOwn]

... and when you keep on going to the gym there will eventually be less of YOU to keep occupied as well!!! :) :) :)

Fortunately for me, there isn't much more of me that needs to disappear.:D

[Pixie Wildflower]

I was able to have kids....I wish I knew what you were all going through.