#empty nesters

[thegeographia]

Large arts and crafts backyard stamped concrete patio photo with a fire pit and a roof extension

International Conference on the Life Sciences and Sustainability 2020

[archiebaldo1414]

Chris getting possessed by Shane for a minute there (he literally says *I* didn’t have to be worried about getting walked in on holy shit😭)

[heralgorithm]

5-Minute Calming Christmas Sound Bath | Crystal Singing Bowls for Holiday Stress ...

This 5-minute sound bath is for the parts of you that’s still adjusting as an empty nester this holiday season. You Are not alone. Please like, share for those seeking, and subscribe for more.

[madwomanthinkingoutloud]

Empty Nest 🪹

The operative word is Empty. This is not a self-improvement guide. This is a self-discovery of my personal experience.

The first 3 months of my pregnancy were miserable because of the all-day sickness. The only temporary remedies were saltine crackers and spearmint gum - I was definitely keeping the weight off - but wait for it!

After 36 weeks, I started to enjoy my baby bump and growing hair (I have always had fine, sparse hair - Winning!)

It's a Girl! I did not want to find out the sex, but Daddy and Baty wanted to know (yes, still binary then!) and that was the happiest day of my pregnancy! Nothing against boys, but I always preferred girls.

I went from 130 to 160 lbs. at term. Yikes! For some it's not a lot, but for me it definitely was! I had given up my 1 cup of milk with coffee, but I couldn't resist the smell, so I drank decaf instead. I did not have ridiculous cravings, but when I got my appetite back, I ate all my favorite foods in moderation. Also, the weight gain did not help the wonderful inheritance on my paternal side of stretch marks. 🐅 I wanted to do a naked photo shoot like my daughter's namesake, but dropped that!

Lamaze classes in the last trimester did not prepare me for 21 hours of labor and ultimately a c-section. OUCH! 😫 But it was worth it when I saw the pink little girl with my face. 😍

Welcome Demi! Now, what the hell do I do? I read the third edition of the book, "What to Expect When You're Expecting", but it did not prepare me for what lay ahead. Luckily, Daddy picked up where I lacked and she had the most amazing nanny after I went back to work 2 months later. The downside was she didn't like me much, but I can't blame her. I did not enjoy the first 6 months of my daughter's life. I was in pain, I did not get my minimum of 10 hours of sleep because she was colicky, and postpartum depression set in when I realized my independence was suddenly gone and WTF happened to my body?! I was not planning to breast feed, but it was all the rave back then. An inconsiderate nurse made me do it anyway, even though I told her I didn't want to. What's worse is that I was not able to produce enough milk, so my penance was saggy boobs in vain and my daughter had to get weaned off cow milk by 6 months (oat/almond milk was not yet marketable.) Maybe if I had enthusiastically breast fed, she might not have developed acid reflux later in life.

At around 11 months, this little kid started walking and it was exhausting making sure she didn't get hurt. She stopped wearing diapers and talking clearly before age 2. Who is this person?! I guess our reading to her and being around adults all the time paid off. What we couldn't figure out was how to get her to stop pooping in her pullups. She had no problem peeing in the toilet, but she refused to poop. At around age 3 we had a showdown. I told her we could not leave the bathroom until she pooped. After an agonizing time (it felt like hours), she finally let it go and guess what? She was fine after that, she only called us to wipe her. I guess she was scared about that stuff coming out of her butt. 🤷‍♀️I know girl!

Since 8 months, we started traveling, taking her out to dinner and she was always well behaved. I'm not sure if it was her maturity or my iron hand. Unfortunately, I started to repeat the same abuse I received at the hands of my mother (I should’ve gotten therapy), but 2 important people in my life held me accountable - my husband and best friend. I stopped the raging, but my daughter was still afraid of me and as an adult she reminded me how badly I had treated her. As parents, we do what we think it's best for our children, but it might not be interpreted or viewed the same way.

Once she passed the baby and toddler age, that's when I started to enjoy motherhood or I finally figure out what the hell I was doing. As you may have guessed, she was Daddy's girl until about age 11. We called him the Butler, because he was always at her beck and call. I guess after that she needed me to help her navigate through her own raging hormones. She seemed to be shy (just moody!) until her Quinceañera. She was definitely a debutante that day! It was all great until the 16 year old teenager with a new car started talking back and experimenting with EVERYTHING! I forgave her most indiscretions, because she was an honor student from grade to high school, graduated high school with honors, made the Dean's List, and graduated 6 months early from college with a Bachelor of Arts in English, Creative Writing to become an Editor.

Although she lived 1 semester away at school 30 minutes away - I left her crying for nothing because she was back home a couple of months later. 🙄 She lived alone for several months in our house before the pandemic, and later 1 year in her first apartment in Florida. This last move at 26 to a grown up apartment has been the hardest. She has definitely flown the coup! I know she needs her privacy and she shouldn't be living with 2 middle aged parents who are finally settling down (no more partying!) Maybe I would feel more comfortable if she had a partner to take care of each other, but if there's anything the gen-Z got right it is not to settle!

Someone once said that you never stop worrying about your children. It's just different preoccupations at different phases of their lives as long as we live. Maybe the same person said to enjoy every stage, but this one will take getting used to.

I am extremely proud of being her mother and her accomplishments! I'm sure her intelligence and strength will continue to guide her, but she will always be my little girl and she knows that I will always be there for her. I look forward to this next chapter in her life and continue to live through her adventures. 🥰

[honestlysearching]

A New Start

Sitting here this morning with my first cup of coffee of the day was just fine. Sat with my sister, Mom, and Dad and talked about our dogs, which is one of my favorite subjects if I'm being honest.

Then I got ready for the day, again just fine.

Dropped off something to ship at UPS and thought, I wanna thrift. This is also very normal for me. I love all things thrifting!!!

As I got out of my mini van (my kids are all grown up but I still love that thing), my phone rang.

I saw that it was from the principal of a school that I had recently interviewed with for the front desk receptionist position. I got a little flutter in my stomach and almost didn't answer because I had received a few rejection calls over the last few months from other jobs and was feeling a little jaded.

I hit talk on my cell and then I heard her say that she had good news for me! I got the job!

It's amazing what a simple sentence like that can do for your self-esteem. When you assume that it's going to be another no, but then it isn't.

Feeling blessed today. Feeling grateful today. Feeling like this could be a new start for me.

[honestlysearching]

Another day not knowing what's next...

Another day, another 7 cups of coffee.

Good evening to me. Sitting here wondering what I accomplished today.

I woke up and fed the dogs. Drank coffee of course. Scrolled through social media for no reason. Checked emails. Drank more coffee and then finally decided to start my day!

Got dressed, washed my face, brushed my teeth, and even took my vitamins. Then made a sourdough starter for my bread later. Started some laundry, edited a video for YouTube, emailed a few people, ordered groceries, and worked on a puzzle. I even did a pretty crazy hard workout this afternoon before prepping a few meals for the week! It has been a productive Monday!!

However, I still sit here at the end of the day wondering what's next. I have a job interview on Wednesday so that's a good thing if I get it. I've had several interviews over the last few months and even a few second interviews but still no job. UGH...

Anyway, I have a lot to be thankful for just wish I could shake the feeing of "not knowing" and wish I had the answer to the question "What now?" as I navigate this next stage of life.

Here's to another cup of coffee and another day of what ifs.

[honestlysearching]

Anyone else feel this way?

Good morning.  Good grief, I hate mornings.  I love the coffee that comes with the morning, but not the getting out of bed part. If I could just figure out a way to get to my comfy chair with a coffee in hand without the in-between part.  Ugh.  Good morning.

Okay, coffee in hand, blanket on my feet and a cute dog by my side.  Now it’s a good morning!

What to do today……What should I make for dinner?  Should I wake the kids up or should they be responsible enough to set their own alarms?  They are technically adults, but not really.  Should I make a protein shake for breakfast or eggs?  Maybe a salad for lunch since I had Wendy's chocolate frosty yesterday.  Also a good workout is needed as well.  I did not sleep good last night.  I feel like it’s warm in here.  Is the air not working?  Crap I have to pee again!

Welcome to my morning rant!  I feel like every morning I try to sit calmly with that first cup of coffee but it never fails that my brain goes nuts.  One random thought after the next without any real direction.  I thought about switching to decaf but thats seems like suicide.  So I’ll just let it happen and forget half of what I plan to do today while trying to get all the little things done that are always on my to-do list.

Second cup of coffee poured and I’m out of my pj’s and into yoga pants and a tank top.  Contacts in and face washed.  I’ll brush my teeth after I finish with the coffee.  Why am I standing in the living room and staring into space?  Because I have no idea what I should do first?  Workout?  Not until the coffee is in my veins.  Check emails?  Maybe.  Run errands?  Need to wake the kids up first.

I need to know if this sounds like any other women out there?  Do you find yourself trying to find things to do so that you don’t feel like a loser?  You can’t sit still but you don’t have a career to keep you occupied and your kids are older and don’t need taking care of anymore (sort of). So what does that leave?  It leaves this. Standing in my living room with a cup of coffee and no plans for the day.  At least the dogs like me.

[therpistlr]

🍂 Empty Nest Moms: When the Silence Echoes (And Your New Story Begins) 🍂

Hey beautiful mamas with suddenly-too-quiet homes, Let’s talk about the empty nest ache — that bittersweet cocktail of pride, loneliness, and "What now?" swirling in your heart. 💔✨

You might:

Wander past their empty room, touching old trophies or faded posters.

Over-text your kids (then delete it to "not be annoying").

Feel untethered after decades of soccer games, packed lunches, and bedtime worries.

Wonder: *"Who am I, if not 'Mom' on call 24/7?"*

Your grief is valid. Your tears are love with nowhere to land. But your next chapter? It’s waiting to be written. 🌷

🌱 Rediscovering YOU (Beyond Mom Mode)

1️⃣ Honor the Grief (It’s Love in Another Form)

→ Create a "Let It Out" ritual: Light a candle, write a letter to your younger mom-self, cry without apology. → Reframe "empty" to "open": Your nest isn’t hollow—it’s a space you get to fill now.

2️⃣ Reconnect with Your Passions

→ Unearth old loves: Painting? Hiking? Guitar? That novel draft? → Try something new: Pottery class, solo trip, volunteer work — no guilt allowed! → "What makes MY soul light up?" (Not just "What do the kids need?")

3️⃣ Reimagine Relationships

→ With your partner: Rediscover date nights (awkward silences and all!). → With friends: Deepen neglected bonds over coffee or adventures. → With your adult kids: Practice "parenting from a distance" — trusting, not hovering.

📘 Your Gentle Guide: The Empty Nest Workbook

✨ Empty Nest Syndrome Workbook: Rediscovering Your Identity Beyond Motherhood

Why this workbook feels like a hug:

Journal prompts to process grief & celebrate your motherhood legacy

Self-discovery exercises to map your values, dreams & forgotten joys

Relationship guides: Reigniting romance, setting boundaries with adult kids

"Firsts" bucket lists: For your unscripted, kid-free life 🗺️

Gentle encouragement — no toxic positivity, just permission to grow

A soft reminder, mama:

It’s okay to miss them and crave freedom. Both are true.

Your worth wasn’t borrowed from their presence. You are still whole.

This isn’t an ending — it’s your invitation to bloom wild. 🌸

You raised them to fly. Now, darling, it’s your turn to soar.

~ holding your heart with sisterhood ✨ [doodle of a bird leaving a nest, while a second bird soars toward a sun]