If you’re a parent, you know that your children will eventually move out of the house, start a new life, go to college, get married and possibly even start a family of his or her own. While some parents most definitely look forward to the day they have their son or daughter out of the house; there is always a sense of sadness and loneliness, especially on the part of the mother. Some refer to these feelings of grief and loneliness as Empty Nest Syndrome, a term that was first used during the 1970s to describe the feelings that many moms face when their “baby” leaves home.
Coping With An Empty Nest
According to Dr. Marnie Collins, a cosmetic dentist and mom of four, she’s dreading the thought of her children leaving the home.
“I have a special bond with my son, so I’m not looking forward to him leaving,” she said. “He’s 15 and he’s almost gone. It seems like yesterday that he was born.”
An Empty Nest Can Be a Happy Place
Surprisingly, growing research has determined that having an empty nest isn’t always as depressing as once thought. Obviously, most every parent misses their child; however, an empty nest tends to allow parents to focus more on themselves, their goals and their marriages. Utilimately, an empty nest means a lot less responsibility and more freedom – and definitely more room in the house.
Various studies focused on adult relationships have found that marriages tend to get better when the nest is empty and children leave home. Once a child moves out of the house, there is a lot more opportunity for women and men to spend time with their partners, and the quality of the time spent together is also enhanced. When a child lives at home, partners tend to grow apart; and many of them face trying time and monetary constraints that can bring stress into the marriage. This ultimately cuts down on the amount of time and effort put into the marriage. But once the nest is emptied, marriages tend to become much happier, thanks to fewer barriers and interruptions.
In the end, remember that birds never fly too far away from the nest. While having a child move out of the house may be a sad event at first; try to see it as a new stage in life that you should not only be proud of; but one that you should embrace. When kids leave the nest, focus on yourself, your marriage; and remember: your child is only a phone call, text or email away!
Ashley Page writes for Off-Topic Media. Photo by Amolnaik3k. Special thanks to Dr. Marnie Collins for taking the time to speak to us. Dr. Collins can be reached at her Spokane cosmetic dentistry office at:
Collins Dentistry & Aesthetics
3151 E. 28th Ave.
Spokane, WA 99223
509.532.1111
