I have to be real and say that I thought about becoming an empty nester while I was rocking my kids as infants and then BAM!

When the Empty Nest Stage Hits

It seemed that out of nowhere I was smack dab in the middle of this new stage of life. As a mom, who was carting, feeding, and supporting my scholar athlete, I recall attending her senior showcase for volleyball in Vegas and flying back east to see the colleges she selected to attend. But then all of a sudden, I was driving away after the hardest goodbye I ever had to make. It felt as sad as the first time I said goodbye to my eldest daughter just a few years before this one.

Steps to Take in Your New Stage

At first, I have to tell the truth about how relieved I was not having to drive every weekend to another city sometimes two hours away to attend a sport event. I started realizing that I had time to look through magazines (GenX fun for women) and read through the news on my phone. But when I sat in the quiet, my heart sank. I thought, “Wow, I’m really an empty nester!”

First, I started filling my time and schedule with chores and errands. It made me feel busy however, I began noticing that I was doing busy-work. I also noticed that my husband was feeling the difference, but I found started learning the real reason for the change. Next, I sat down and made a list of all the things I used to enjoy before I had kids. From bike riding to my favorite crunchy peanut butter, I wrote everything I could remember. After that, I decided to fill my schedule with things I loved doing in at least one place each week. It could even be walking on the beach after work. It didn’t have to cost anything.

Seeing the Need for My Book

As I started living in this new stage of life, I started hearing co-workers speak about how they had friends who were absolutely dreading the empty nest stage and showing it by their sadness and attitude change. After writing my first book, Parenting Scholar Athletes, I began looking online for empty nest books. I couldn’t believe how many had the word ‘survive’ or other negative words in their titles. That’s when it dawned on me! Since I wrote my first book to help moms raise their young athlete kids, I can write a new book helping the same moms entering this new stage of life of becoming an empty nester.

Lucky for me, the pandemic hit where a small voice told me to write this book since I would have this time. I have to admit, I loved sitting in soundscape music as I jotted down an outline of what I wanted to share. Before I knew it, I had written five Parts and 50 wonderful chapters that could help motivate moms entering this new stage. Like they say, it was very helpful to relive my sadness and to share the steps I took to find my smile again.

Sending love & light

I hope as you look through the 5 different parts that you see one that calls to you. My hope is that you see a part that speaks to the place you are living at this moment. I send much love and light to all the moms out there who find something positive from my book and notice their smile again.