The Kids have all left nest (or just about?), house is empty and you’re wondering what you’re going to do with your time now.Seems like it just “happened” all of a sudden for some while others knew time was near and dreaded when last child (maybe even first or perhaps only?) left nest to head off to college or whatever other plans they may have made.
So many Moms (and yes, Dads too!) have a difficult time adjusting to this time even though you know that this is all part of ‘the plan’ from time they are born. After all we did same thing didn’t we? Went off to college, got a job and moved out (eventually), or married and started our own life. And yet, it draws near and you find yourself almost in a panic wondering what you are going to do with rest of your life!
You spend so much of your time ‘doing’ for kids from time they are born; you find your life pretty much revolves around theirs. Even for a lot of Moms that have worked outside home for several years, it’s pretty much same. Get up in morning, get kids up make breakfast, make sure they’re ready for school, go to work only to try and make sure you get off in time to make a ball game or other school activities, (not to mention times they are home sick from school!) your life is still pretty much revolving around kids!
And even though, as mentioned, you know this time is coming, it’s kind of hard to just shut all of this down and go on with what amounts to a “new life”.
But, it’s here and now you have to adjust and deal with it! Much easier said then done for some.
First off do give yourself a BIG pat on back; you deserve it. You have raised a child with confidence to go out and face that ‘big wide world’ and now you need to give yourself some adjusting time. After all it’s almost like a time of “mourning” for some, you feel like you have lost a part of yourself, which, of course, is NOT true. Now is time to find that “Old You” or create a “New You”!
So many think their time as “Mom” is over with, which is also not true. It just revolves into a different phase. You’ll always be their Mom, even though it might feel at times that they are shutting you out. Remember, they are going through their adjusting period too! They settle down after a while, you start adjusting to their being out of house, then that more “adult” relationship begins which can be very rewarding when you start seeing your ‘child’ becoming an adult.
Meanwhile, it’s time to start thinking of you and what you want to do with this new phase of your life.