Empty Nest Therapy
Abbey Press
Foreword
When our son went to college, it was a big adjustment for me. I missed our conversations and his sharp wit. I missed his games, school events, and the other parents who had become our social network.
After he was gone for a week, my son commented on the phone that he felt as if the kids in his dorm were like his “second family.” I didn’t know whether to be relieved he was adjusting so well or incensed that his family of 18 years had been so easily replaced!
The purpose of parenthood is to nurture children, so that someday they can fly solo. Yet an “empty nest” can cause confusing emotions for parents. While this juncture can bring on sadness and loneliness, it can also signal newfound freedom and fulfillment.