Several of our friends are sending their oldest fledglings to college. When their stomachs aren’t flip-flopping with concern as their little chicks spread their wings, they’re worrying about how they’ll handle the empty nest once all their kids are gone. To ease their anxiety, here are the top ten empty nest positives we enjoy.
10. We now have plenty of room when company, like our kids, come to visit.
9. If one of us forgets to shut the bedroom door while the other is dressing, it’s no big deal.
8. Eating out doesn’t cost as much. Neither do groceries…except when company, like our kids, come to visit.
7. We can watch whatever movies we want without wondering if they’re appropriate for kids.
6. We have more travel destinations. For instance, going to visit our kids.
5. We can watch TV before finishing our chores.
4. Ditto for eating popcorn.
3. We can take off whenever we want and go wherever we want. Like going to see our kids.
2. We can concentrate on tasks that require much thought – like writing or building guitars – for hours at a time.
1. Some days, we go ahead and eat dessert first. Especially when our kids come to visit.
Those are the top ten positives we enjoy at this empty nest. What would you add to the list? Take away? Eat for dessert first? Leave a comment!
Sounds like something Judith Viorst could’ve written in one of her hilarious, yet thought-provoking poetry. I’ve thought of those things, but I was married for 12 years before our first child was born. It wasn’t by choice, but rather infertility & pregnancy losses. We got all the above (except for guitars!) & more out of our systems w/in the first few years we were married. Had my husband not died last year, after 10 years of increasing diabetes complications, we might’ve enjoyed some of the empty nest benefits, esp. extensive travel. But that was not to be, so all I have is….the empty nest.
I understand what you’re saying Fran. Honestly, I do enjoy the quiet of our empty nest. That may have more to do with 25 years as a teacher than with our own kids’ noise, but I’m thankful for time to think and write. But you are in a very different and difficult situation. I am sorry that all has not transpired as you had dreamed.
Jolene