August 15, 2008 01:25 PM
My Emptying Nest
My nest got a little emptier this week, as I dropped my oldest child off at college for the first time. We moved her into her dorm, hugged her goodbye, and that was it. The moment we'd been waiting for was gone, just like that. While I still have a teenage son at home, I must admit, the house seems odd and quiet now that we're minus one. I tried not to be sad and cry on move-in day, because I wanted to focus on this exciting time for her, not on what it felt like for me. And while that excitement for her is still there and strong, I have to say it's strange to be without her for the first time in 18 years.
I wanted to learn a bit more about Empty Nest Syndrome, which can occur when a parent has one or more children move out of their home. I read the general descriptions of this syndrome, and it all made sense. Then I found an interesting article that suggests there can also be a lot of joy in store for parents who have just had a child move out. Check out Is Empty-Nest Syndrome Nothing but an Empty Myth? , from US News and World Report. In particular, I loved reading this in the article:
Also, it's "mentally gratifying" for parents to see the fruits of their labor—to know that all their child-rearing efforts have paid off—their kid has grown up, moved out, and begun to accomplish his or her goals.
