PARENTING
THE EAGLE HAS LEFT THE BUILDING WRITTEN BY LAUREN DREHER
“Only 10 more years left,” you said as you shut the door after a rough bedtime routine. But fast-forward to dropping your child off at college or watching them drive on to the next chapter of their life, and that may not be the thought running through your head. Instead, you fight back tears because your child is gaining independence by the minute. On the one hand, you’re proud of the young adult they have become. At the same time you pray they make good decisions. What are your next steps? I sought advice from parents who have navigated this new stage of life and are satisfied with their current situation.
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SIMPLYkc MAGAZINE
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JULY 2022
EMBRACE THE NEWFOUND FREEDOM
to somewhere you’ve always wanted to live.
One of the biggest things you can do for yourself as an empty nester is understand that you are now in a new stage of life and accept that it will take an adjustment period. It’s okay to be sad that your kids are out of the house if they also become your friends. It’s also okay to be happy your kids are out of the house and be proud of who you raised.
If you’re not ready to head out just yet, this could be a great opportunity to rearrange rooms. Change things up so it feels less lonesome to sit in a room without them. Unless your kids are living close, chances are you want to keep a room for them to stay when they come home. This, however, doesn’t mean they have to stay in the same room they always had. The parents I spoke to didn’t wait long to change up some rooms.
Chances are you have some extra room. Don’t feel bad about wanting to downsize to a home that requires less maintenance. You might think of this as an opportunity to relocate
They often used the extra space for hobbies and interests. Hobbies and
