Empty Nest Syndrome
The coming months can be particularly hard for some mothers, as their kids flee the nest for the first time and head to university. They have become completely independent and no longer need looking after, mother will put on a brave face and wave them of happily but will be sad underneath that their maternal role is being whittled away.
This emptiness or lost feeling has been labelled empty nest syndrome and every caring mother will come across it sooner or later. Its that loss of the all consuming role you have become accustomed to, that role which has shaped your identity for the last couple of decades. In the end, there is nothing you can do apart from sit back and relish in what a dam good job you have done. If you are finding it difficult though, here are a few tips to help you through.
First of all, it is important to talk about your feelings with someone especially if you are feeling depressed or withdrawn, in extreme cases it may be necessary to see your GP. It is important not to hang on for example don't call everyday or you will risk completely alienating yourself and it wont help you in creating a new lifestyle for yourself. You can also turn their bedroom into a useful room (usually a gym!) and this will stop you wandering in and getting all sentimental. After spending so much time completely focused on the upbringing of your children, it's about time you concentrated on yourself again. Try and recall those dreams you had before your time was taken and develop an action plan to carry them out, many mothers lives are just starting when their offspring uproot and move out.
There are many things you can do to occupy your time, spend time with your friends, learn new skills, get fit, read books, travel , the list really is endless. The main thing is remembering that having taken on such a massive responsibility in having children, you have surpassed that responsibility and you should be proud of the job you have done!
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