The Empty Nest

There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots; the other, wings. ~ Hodding Carter

That quote served as my guide during my children’s formative years. Parenting was hard yet rewarding work. Each developmental stage had its challenges. Each stage also had its joys. Today I find myself approaching what has become known as the empty nest phase.

The empty nest can be challenging but with a little planning you can make that adjustment much easier. I knew that one day my children would fly away. I also knew that I would need to find ways to occupy my time when my children no longer needed a mommy. Having hobbies and other interests during the years my children were young was important to me. I wasn’t always able to indulge in them like I wanted to but I knew that one day, when the children were grown and on their own, I would be able to invest as much time and energy into my hobbies as I wanted to.

My daughter is 21 and my son is 18. Soon they will be spreading their wings to fly. It’s bittersweet for me. I adored them as babies; I struggled with them as teenagers. I smile at them as young adults. I miss having children in the house but I am enjoying the adult relationships we are creating.

My nest is not empty. The contents have simply changed.