November 2007 Archives

Thanksgiving gatherings are over. Hugs goodbye in the driveway, airport or train with kleenex tucked in our pocket, reflection emerges.

I realized we are all feeling a long way from home. The HOME where we use to live our traditions has changed.

New family members, old ones looking down from above, anticipation of newborns, hope for our sons and daughters dreams to appear and us, the parents, who are reinventing the way we were.

I hope you are able to bring your hands together, place them on your heart, and take in a deep appreciation breath for living in the changes.

natalie@emptynestsupport.com
800 446 3310 toll-free

Employers have discovered empty nesters are great people to hire. They demonstrate less stress since they aren’t juggling home and work life.

Less stress reduces illness and therefore better accountability and focus at work.

So that is something to talk about at the thanksgiving table with your adult children!

What do you think about hiring empty nesters? Do you feel less stressed when you are at work or truthfully, are you looking for those instant messages or emails, or texts from your children?

Natalie
natalie@emptynestsupport.com

Yes, it is true that even when you are preparing for the holidays tears will fall. So what’s wrong with tears, I asked my empty nest group? What’s wrong with crying about being alone or not having your dreams come true? Who wouldn’t cry over disappointments and loss and changes? Who taught us it is not ok to cry? Are we really going to be punished as adults for crying over spilt milk? Loss is loss… sadness is sadness….disappointment is disappointment. Loved ones we want to see sitting at our thanksgiving table may not be there this year…

Life is complex, full of paradoxes. The younger internal parts of us want life to be one way or the other. We get uncomfortable with loneliness, losses, not knowing what to do or how to change what is stressing us.

In my empty nest telephone sessions and groups we all seem to come back to this healing medicine:

1. Practice being in the moment, not in the past of how it was and not ahead of ourselves with thoughts of what if…..?

2. Learn what nurtures us and how to treat ourselves well. Life changes us and therefore, our needs and dreams change.

Isn’t it a challenge to not have a rule book or an accurate map quest?

Natalie
natalie@emptynestsupport.com
800-446-3310 toll free
818-763-0188 local number
Empty Nest Support Services

Children are coming home for Thanksgiving. Parents are writing cooking and shopping lists, decorating the house, and leaping a little quicker out of bed in happy anticipation of their children sleeping in their rooms again, and chatting together in the kitchen.

Change has happened. Some children aren’t going to be sitting at the turkey table. They will be at in laws, not able to fly home, or with the other parent due to divorce.

Each family is dancing different stories but all are going to find a way to celebrate.

What is different for you this Thanksgiving? My daughter has to work so we will gather with her the weekend after and we will be cooking at her place. That is a first for me.

I will be stopping in for celebrations with my mother, nephews and family, and my husband’s family. I haven’t figured out what to cook.

What are you planning so far?