My hormones raged, my youngest son was 17. I am married to my high school
sweetheart and worked part time at this point in my life...I have 2 children both boys,who seemed to have no time for mom anymore and a husband whom I adored but who
also worked 14+ hour days...and his health was suffering due to the long hours he had to work. My eldest son was in college already. I thought once my younger son was
in college.....what am I going to do??? I was so use to having children depend on me
for most everything.....the thought of being alone...”the Empty Nest”..was terrifying to me. I wanted another child. We took classes in hopes to adopt a child. But for some reason time passed and it never seemed to be the “right” time to adopt.
My husband and I were getting “itchy” feet. We had been in one location raising our
family for 20 years...we felt that when our younger son graduated from high
school....that would be the perfect time to make a change in our lives....NOT adopting a child, but moving! Sound crazy? WEll I thought so. Iʼm a spiritual person so I said to myself.... 1. if our home sells in 6 months and 2. if we
find a place to move that we LOVE and it has a church denomination that I
attend....then it must be a “sign” that we are meant to move.
My husband wanted to move to a SMALL town in Alaska...so that was a challenge in
itself. AND our home was close to 5,000 sq feet with 25 acres, living in the country on a gravel road so this type of home 10+ years ago was not an easy type of property to sell. BUT it did sell and close within the 6 months. And you guessed it we found a fabulous little community of 5,000 people with a church of my denomination...AND it had a job opening for my husband! So we told the kids we were moving.
We rented a small home in Alaska while we built our home. Both sons lived with us
that summer in Alaska and then our younger son got settled on the east coast for his
college experience and my older son went back to his University.
I was in Alaska with my husband and dogs beginning my life as an official “Empty
Nester”. I spent 1 and 1/2 years relaxing and enjoying the newness of Alaska. I Began quilting, enjoying yoga and making new friends.
My advice to anyone who is approaching an Empty Nest...is to embrace the time and
find yourself again. Take up new hobbies, do yoga, join a spa, make new friends and
connect with old friends! Because, for me, this “Empty Nester” time passed too
quickly.
After a year and a half..my husband decided he wanted to work BOTH in Homer, Alaska
which is our main home and in Anchorage, Alaska! That threw a kinck in my life. I
had no idea how to “live” 2 weeks a month in 2 cities!!
I was just getting to feel part of the community in Homer ... when at the request of my husband, who wanted me to come up with him to Anchorage when he worked...I began what I call my “schizophrenic” lifestyle. If there are others out there who live like this Iʼd sure love to hear from you! How do you not get so stressed?
My life as an “Empty Nester” slowly faded. NOT that anyone moved back into our
home(s) but that things changed!! My oldest son moved to Anchorage, Alaska and
brought his new bride. Grandchildren arrived and now I long for some of that “Empty
Nest” time!!! Oh, did you hear me say that??? Shhhhhhh thatʼs our little secret.
My life now consists of having the adventure of living in 2 cities with my loving husband and being with my son and his family when I am in Anchorage! I have the honor to watch my grandchildren while their parents work when I am in Anchorage. Then I go home to Homer and rest up, to happily do it all over again the next visit to Anchorage in 2 weeks. My life is anything BUT “Empty”.
The term “Empty Nest” should not exist. Although oneʼs home may be absent of
children for a period of time, that does not make oneʼs home “Empty”. I prefer the
work Quiet. Embrace these quiet moments in time to re-connect with your husband or
significant other, to re-discover yourself, to find your inner harmony and peace
because this quiet time does not last long in my experience and you will need all the energy and peace to engage on the other side of the “Quiet Nest”!
Peace & Quiet Times... from Colleen at Colleensbooknook!
sweetheart and worked part time at this point in my life...I have 2 children both boys,who seemed to have no time for mom anymore and a husband whom I adored but who
also worked 14+ hour days...and his health was suffering due to the long hours he had to work. My eldest son was in college already. I thought once my younger son was
in college.....what am I going to do??? I was so use to having children depend on me
for most everything.....the thought of being alone...”the Empty Nest”..was terrifying to me. I wanted another child. We took classes in hopes to adopt a child. But for some reason time passed and it never seemed to be the “right” time to adopt.
My husband and I were getting “itchy” feet. We had been in one location raising our
family for 20 years...we felt that when our younger son graduated from high
school....that would be the perfect time to make a change in our lives....NOT adopting a child, but moving! Sound crazy? WEll I thought so. Iʼm a spiritual person so I said to myself.... 1. if our home sells in 6 months and 2. if we
find a place to move that we LOVE and it has a church denomination that I
attend....then it must be a “sign” that we are meant to move.
My husband wanted to move to a SMALL town in Alaska...so that was a challenge in
itself. AND our home was close to 5,000 sq feet with 25 acres, living in the country on a gravel road so this type of home 10+ years ago was not an easy type of property to sell. BUT it did sell and close within the 6 months. And you guessed it we found a fabulous little community of 5,000 people with a church of my denomination...AND it had a job opening for my husband! So we told the kids we were moving.
We rented a small home in Alaska while we built our home. Both sons lived with us
that summer in Alaska and then our younger son got settled on the east coast for his
college experience and my older son went back to his University.
I was in Alaska with my husband and dogs beginning my life as an official “Empty
Nester”. I spent 1 and 1/2 years relaxing and enjoying the newness of Alaska. I Began quilting, enjoying yoga and making new friends.
My advice to anyone who is approaching an Empty Nest...is to embrace the time and
find yourself again. Take up new hobbies, do yoga, join a spa, make new friends and
connect with old friends! Because, for me, this “Empty Nester” time passed too
quickly.
After a year and a half..my husband decided he wanted to work BOTH in Homer, Alaska
which is our main home and in Anchorage, Alaska! That threw a kinck in my life. I
had no idea how to “live” 2 weeks a month in 2 cities!!
I was just getting to feel part of the community in Homer ... when at the request of my husband, who wanted me to come up with him to Anchorage when he worked...I began what I call my “schizophrenic” lifestyle. If there are others out there who live like this Iʼd sure love to hear from you! How do you not get so stressed?
My life as an “Empty Nester” slowly faded. NOT that anyone moved back into our
home(s) but that things changed!! My oldest son moved to Anchorage, Alaska and
brought his new bride. Grandchildren arrived and now I long for some of that “Empty
Nest” time!!! Oh, did you hear me say that??? Shhhhhhh thatʼs our little secret.
My life now consists of having the adventure of living in 2 cities with my loving husband and being with my son and his family when I am in Anchorage! I have the honor to watch my grandchildren while their parents work when I am in Anchorage. Then I go home to Homer and rest up, to happily do it all over again the next visit to Anchorage in 2 weeks. My life is anything BUT “Empty”.
The term “Empty Nest” should not exist. Although oneʼs home may be absent of
children for a period of time, that does not make oneʼs home “Empty”. I prefer the
work Quiet. Embrace these quiet moments in time to re-connect with your husband or
significant other, to re-discover yourself, to find your inner harmony and peace
because this quiet time does not last long in my experience and you will need all the energy and peace to engage on the other side of the “Quiet Nest”!
Peace & Quiet Times... from Colleen at Colleensbooknook!
