Empty Nester
By Judy Story
@jstory07 (135092)
Roseburg, Oregon
May 4, 2024 2:05am CST
This is when all of your children have left home and you and your spouse are all alone. For some Mom's and Dad's it is a welcome time. Time to go on road trips alone or just have week end trips where you can have fun and not worry about your adult children anymore.
No getting up early to make sure your children are up and off to school.
No more expensive items to have to pay for. Your children are all adults now and need to take care of themselves.
For some empty nesters it is a sad time. They fell lonely and unneeded.
I was happy for all of my children when they left home. Time to be free and do what we wanted to do. Time to enjoy our life together. Finally.
I raised children for over forty years and was sad and glad at the same time when my last child left home.
19 people like this
17 responses
@arunima25 (85885)
• Bangalore, India
4 May
It's a mixed feeling for me. Well, my younger daughter is still with me and she will stay with us for longer time. She has Autism and will need longer time to leave us and be fully independent. My daughters are not dependent on me any longer and I have more free time to devote on other things that I couldn't do when they were young.
4 people like this
@rebelann (111428)
• El Paso, Texas
4 May
I've read that all too often that empty nest causes some couples to realize they have nothing in common, a friend of mine got a divorce after 38 years because she realized she had nothing in common with her hubby but now she's remarried and is still friends with her ex.
2 people like this
@crossbones27 (48542)
• Mojave, California
4 May
You a great lady and your husband but you forget me. Come on that was funny, Probably not really, but mad respect miss lady not many actually have a whole generation of family with some decent starting sense. Life is not hard but can be if you do get that. Most don't to be honest.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (48542)
• Mojave, California
4 May
@jstory07 Amen reciprocal, teach well, it goes both ways more often than not. People like to say blessed, I say well done, you taught well.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (29455)
•
4 May
We raise them to be independent and live their own lives, to be responsible and earn their own way. It's still hard. I know they had to go, but I still wanted them to be close by...that hasn't always been the case due to jobs, etc. but I feel so fortunate that 2 of mine are very close in time and miles, and a third one is 90 minutes or so away. The fourth one is sadly in Florida, which is too far for me to have a fast visit. Time changes things...we have to accept it, it's not always easy, for sure.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (135092)
• Roseburg, Oregon
5 May
@MarieCoyle At least he is now an X. Which is good and you have two wonderful grandchildren.
@MarieCoyle (29455)
•
5 May
@jstory07
When my oldest girl got married, she married her boyfriend/fiance of several years. She was only 20--and in college. He was, too, but he was nearly done with his degree. I liked him, but he was extremely assertive and downright dictoral at times. It was a huge wedding--her Dad wanted it that way...ridiculously pricey and downright stupid. Anyway, after all the hoopla and she was walking down the isle...I suddenly had this terrible feeling, a feeling that this would end in disaster. What's a Mother to do? They didn't want my advice. It was their life, not mine, and they were of age. I smiled and swallowed a ton of tears...they had a tumultuous 7 years, and 2 children that are wonderful. For the record, her ex is still that way. Everything is HIS way, no one's as important as he is.
1 person likes this
@xstitcher (30554)
• Petaluma, California
4 May
No children, here. If my Mom were still alive, I would likely still be at home.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (135092)
• Roseburg, Oregon
5 May
You do have a good life and things will work out for you. God is there for you.
@Juliaacv (48647)
• Canada
4 May
We were happy to see ours leave the nest.
It was a quick leave, he only had about a week's notice, as he received a job offer in another city, where we currently live, which was an hour's drive from where we used to live.
Our son and I spent alot of time shopping for household goods that he needed to start up, that was nice.
After that, we did go through a strange phase as empty nesters.
I would walk out of the grocery store and look at the cart and think, is that really everything?
but it was nice to have the extra time together, and have ever since.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (74114)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 May
Never had children of my own but I know I would have been happy to see them make their own lives and I could start living for myself again,.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29360)
• Eugene, Oregon
6 May
My only has been gone for (wow) 18 years. I'm glad that she is not too far away and we are in touch with texts and emails.
1 person likes this
@just4him (308657)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
4 May
Having an empty nest is good so you can enjoy all the things you wanted to do while you focused on raising your children. It is a time of blessing when you can also enjoy shared moments with your children and grandchildren and know they are doing well on their own.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (158582)
• United States
4 May
I'm sure you will enjoy your time alone. You can still see your children. Have a good weekend.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34499)
•
4 May
I'm sure many parents share your view on the kids leaving the home and going out on their own. It's a time for both parties to relish the freedom...
1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (13096)
• Italy
5 May
I'm glad your empty nester experience has been mostly positive overall. 
It must not be easy to adjust to the new life, even when you look forward it.
It must not be easy to adjust to the new life, even when you look forward it.
@wolfgirl569 (96423)
• Marion, Ohio
4 May
It was a mixed feeling for me. I still sometimes miss seeing them when I get up.
1 person likes this
