EMPTY NESTER - NOW WHAT?

"The days are long, but the years are short." Gretchen Rubin. To say that I am an Empty Nester is wild to me. It feels like just the other day I was watching my boys get off the school bus excited to tell me all about their day. My mind is flooded with memories of studying site words, going over math problems, working on projects, basketball and football practices, boy scout meetings, safety patrol, band recitals, Sunday School, vacations, and so much more. My emotions are all over the place filled with excitement, fear, sadness, and joy all depending on the moment of the day. I want my sons to go out into the world and find their way. To live, love, and laugh. I also want to protect them from hurt, failure, heartbreak, rejection, and disappointment. But, I cant. I have to allow them to grow and have their own experiences.

Daily I am choosing to look at the positive. To find the joy in this season both for them and for myself. What does that look like? Its letting go of them and grabbing hold of me. Getting back in touch with the things that I enjoy and now have more time for. For me that consists of traveling, working out, hanging with friends, painting, reading and discovering new hobbies and adventures.  We spend so much time pouring into our children that we often lose track of ourselves. Ask yourself, what are the things that you enjoy outside of being a mother? Outside of your family? This stage of parenting is an emotional one. We have to allow ourselves time and grace to process our new normal. As our children go out and discover who they are and who they want to be in this world; as mothers we to are finding our way back to who once were or discovering who we are now.