Having more fun than your kids

[haidyl]

Your teen just headed off to college or your kid finally got a job and has to move to another city. The extra time can (initially) present a new challenge to empty nesters. Have you ever found yourself so occupied with other things to the extent that you were probably doing this at the expense of your kids? It is likely that kids also go through a phase of emptiness, especially when they have to start out on their own.

[CountryMom]

I think for some kids it's definitely an adjustment and they get that sense of loneliness, especially if they move into a 1 bedroom apartment all by themselves. Young adults are often seen as raring to bust down the doors of their childhood home and gain independence, so when they find themselves feeling a bit homesick, they are less likely to share those feelings with others since it's not "normal" (or so they think).

[haidyl]

Ooh yes CountryMom, plus I also think that kids normally have a different view of what independence is all about. It can get lonely when they are all on their own but after a while, they get used to it. As a parent, I got used to checking on them from time to time.

[Vanessa]

For my daughter it's not the problem of emptiness but of many things she needs to do in a short time frame. Meanwhile, I got  only a few things to be done and a whole lot of free time that I get to enjoy. I'd probably enjoy it more if she was around, but still, I get more time to relax while she does a number of things each day.