Changing Up the Routine As An Empty Nest Parent

It's been three years, one month, four days, three hours and  forty-seven minutes since my youngest child left the house, but who's counting? I hardly even noticed that all three children have left the nest with apartments of their own...they now call 'home'................................

Some things may have altered just a tiny bit, though.  I cannot remember the last time I bought the industrial-sized Bagel Bites that required pinching the corners to be able to fit into my freezer or the milk carton container of goldfish snacks.  I no longer think I should own stock in the Gatorade company.  I do all my laundry on off-peak hours now; there are no more emergency laundry requests.  Curfews have no place in our house anymore.  We go back to bed at 9 pm and sleep as long as our bodies allow us to.

If I was totally honest with you (and why would I be any other way?!), I would tell you the house has a morgue-like atmosphere most of the time.  Music isn't blaring and there is no yelling anymore except on the occasions when Wrigley is whining and disturbing the deafening silent of the household! No giggles or out right laughter is heard like when my boys would be quizzing their sister and finding her answers to be hysterical.  I have finally heard a whole song been played on the car radio before someone has switched the channel. 

I don't ever push or shove my husband around like my sons would do to settle an argument.  No, the only sounds that resonant through the house are the occasional UTube video being shared on the computer or the constant drone of the television reporters reporting about one chaos after another in the world.



Life hasn't stopped since the kids up and left their nurturing nest.  In fact, we have never been busier, at least in our work situations.  It's just very different.  And sometimes I enjoy the changes and sometimes I hate the changes. 

My advise to new parents experiencing the empty nest arrangement is to every once and awhile, try to recreate the atmosphere you had with the children, at least the good parts.  Put some goldfish in a big bowl on the coffee table and turn on the stereo full blast instead of falling into the evening's "regular routine".  Be playful with your partner. Call the kids and talk over the loud music.  Tell them that you are thinking of them and that you love them.