| "Turn around and you're tiny, turn around and you're | | | | wanted, or take some interesting courses from a local |
| grown | | | | community college. |
| Turn around and you're a young wife with babes of | | | | Start a new business, or mentor others by sharing |
| your own." | | | | your knowledge and experience. |
| The above lyrics are especially poignant for parents | | | | Learn a new skill or indulge your creative side by |
| who are sending their children into the world. | | | | exploring a new hobby. Many communities offer |
| The house is quiet, the kids are gone and you enter | | | | classes in pottery, gourmet cooking, writing, |
| the empty nest phase of your life. This transition | | | | photography, and other crafts. If you have special |
| challenges many parents whose lives were very | | | | knowledge or a special skill, consider teaching. |
| involved in supporting their families, and raising children | | | | Re-connect with old friends and make new ones. |
| with little thought to their own needs and desires. After | | | | Have dinner parties, go to concerts, museums, take |
| working hard to support and raise their families, they | | | | interesting, fun day trips, or just spend time together. |
| find they can now enjoy time to indulge themselves in | | | | Every community needs volunteers and local hospitals, |
| things they put off for many years. | | | | schools and community organizations offer a variety |
| This is a time when couples whose attention once | | | | of opportunities that meet your interests, skills and |
| focused on work, childrens schedules, and other | | | | schedule. |
| commitments, now focuses on re-discovering and | | | | Share your love of reading by joining or starting a |
| re-connecting to each other. It is like dating all over | | | | book club or volunteering to read to schoolchildren. |
| again, without the stress of meeting parents, family and | | | | Travel to new places or return to old favorites. |
| friends of your beloved. | | | | Take a walk along the ocean, a lake, or in nature, and |
| Here are a few suggestions to make the transition | | | | reap the benefits of exercise and spiritual connection. |
| from full house to empty nest. | | | | Cell phones, email, and computer video cameras allow |
| When your last child leaves home, take a short trip | | | | you to keep in touch and "visit" children, family and |
| with your spouse, if possible, to somewhere you both | | | | friends. |
| have been or have dreamed of seeing. | | | | Enjoy yourself! Use the extra money, time and space |
| Enjoy the ambiance of your chosen destination as you | | | | in your home to do as you wish. |
| share your hopes and dreams for the future. If you | | | | Prepare while your children still live at home. Cultivating |
| are a single parent, talk to friends and family about | | | | hobbies and interests while the kids are still in the nest |
| your dreams and desires for this phase of your life. | | | | makes life easier, and more fulfilling when they leave. |
| Enroll in college and earn that degree you've always | | | | |