empty nest

Parenting Shift In An Empty Nest

Time forces us to transition, whether we like it or not. Babies grow out of their footie pajamas and into princess gowns and super hero capes. They learn to ride a bike and take off down the street momentarily escaping parental control. The complexity of their homework eventually exceeds the capacity of their college educated parents to double check. They grow up whether we like it or not.    

Parenting is one of the craziest jobs anyone ever takes. For most of us, our role starts on protective high alert: always standing at the ready available to step in. You offer a hand as she takes her first step. Clean up every mess after he attempts to feed himself. Cheer loudly from your place on the sidelines. Eventually, you move from your feet to your knees, waiting for them to return home or just return a text. 

As our children begin spending more time away from home, our role as parents must transition from hyper-vigilant control and protection to one of being an Adulting Consultant. 

Rethinking Rest in an Empty Nest

Are you nourishing your soul and experiencing peace or do your diversions drive you to discouragement and negativity? This is a hard question to ask and might be even harder to answer 

Many of you know about my addiction to buying notebooks. The one I am using as my prayer journal these days must have been purchased as insurance against the future day when I was feeling a little discouraged.  

Road Map For an Empty Nest

Easing into June after a month filled with activities and celebrations can leave you feeling like a balloon after all of the hot air has escaped. Deflated. While you welcome the rest and the quiet, you may be a bit at loose ends when it comes to wrapping your brain around what just happened. 

You may even be a smidge apprehensive about what to expect in the coming months if you are facing change. Especially if the change is not one that you orchestrated or invited. 

Stalled. Unable to Soar.

Many of us are in a period of transition, that in between stage which feels like a waste of time. We are unable to move. Unable to soar in the direction our soul is longing to lead us. There is a tension we are not quite able to name.

Some are stalled out after an unexpected diagnosis, so much time spent waiting for more information or attending appointments to get going on a cure that may or may not ever arrive. 

Others of us are stationary, unable to face the unlimited number of decisions about what to keep and what to give away in an effort to downsize, relocate, or finally just get organized.