Jan 20 2008
How Baby Boomers Can Feather Their Empty Nest
- Phyllis Goldberg
As your kidults begin to pack up for college, does the thought of creating a more grown-up nest sound good? Can you visualize more simplicity and less chaos? Think about what it would be like to clean out the drawers, give away the memorabilia your kids don’t want, get rid of all the stuff they’re outgrown and make your home yours again.
If you decide to make a change, it will be an ongoing process filled with both positive and negative emotions. This transition signifies the end of an important chapter in your life – the house full of family and activity, of growing children and all their antics. You may mourn the loss of many things, material and otherwise – valuable pieces of history relegated to the attic or sold for some ridiculous price, the hard discs of your past life, memories triggered by stuff. Yet, you’ll grow to feel content, surrounded by what is most important to you – perhaps the photo albums that trace your family history, souvenirs from your travels or your treasured books – and all the precious memories that you carry around in your head.
Soon, you may find yourself anticipating the changes and getting excited about making a fresh start. Altering your surroundings at home can stimulate you to modify your outlook on life. This shift can give you the impetus to explore new areas and discover adventures outside your familiarity. As you consider feathering a nest that works for you, here are some ideas to help get you started. Remember that any process takes time and, by definition, involves flexibility.
- It is never too early – or too late – to begin gathering information about the changes you plan to initiate. What do you need to learn more about? Speak to as many people as possible who have already explored or gone through this experience. Surf the net and be on the lookout for books you can read or seminars you can take to learn more. Talk to anyone who is in a position to inform, educate and help you.
- As the Greek sages told us centuries ago, know thyself. Increase your self awareness by examining who you are now and who you want to become. Are your old dreams still meaningful to you? What else are you committed to now? What ‘contracts’ have you made with yourself or your significant other that impact your choices today? Now that you do not have the daily responsibilities of 24 hour, hands-on parenting, will you have more time for yourself? Do you expect to work, play, volunteer, or continue to explore your options? Keeping a journal will provide some structure as you brainstorm, set new goals and put your plans in motion.
- Once you have created the dream, let your priorities determine what is realistic. Are you alone in making the decision? Is this change financially feasible? Are there work or personal issues to take into consideration? Are there others in your household whose needs you will consider?
- Understand that emotional reactions at times of transition are both common and normal. Allow yourself to express and accept your feelings as they emerge. Although you may regret what you have given away, you will also feel relieved about less clutter. Perhaps you will vacillate between enthusiasm about how your new digs reflect the current you and sadness about what you have left behind. Your interest in exploring new opportunities may fluctuate with your fears of the unknown.
As you begin feathering your grown-up nest, be mindful of what you need. Have confidence in yourself and trust that you will maintain in your life what is truly meaningful. While drawing from past experiences, traditions and values, you will create a present for yourself that is rich and rewarding.
(C) 2007, Her Mentor Center
About the Author: Phyllis Goldberg, Ph.D. is the founder of http://www.HerMentorCenter.com, a website for midlife women and http://www.NourishingRelationships.Blogspot.com, a blog for the Sandwich Generation. She is the author of a forthcoming book about Baby Boomers and family relationships. She offers a free newsletter Stepping Stones.
Current Articles
I d been very pleased to find this internet site.I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every part of it and I have you ever gigs to find new stuff from you post.
Many thanks lots for delivering everyone remarkably marvellous opportunity to see crucial remarks from here. It’s always so amazing also stuffed with fun for me personally and my workplace peers on the job to appear your specific internet page with a least thrice inside of a seven days to learn in the new items you may have. And naturally, I’m just always satisfied of the putting pointers you give. Preferred 2 recommendations with this post are very the foremost fantastic I’ve ever had
Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Extremely helpful information specifically the last part
I care for such info much. I was looking for this certain information for a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.
Gardinen online shop !!!
Hey there, You’ve done a fantastic job. I will certainly digg it and personally suggest to my friends. I am sure they’ll be benefited from this web site.
I just want to tell you that I am just very new to blogs and truly savored you’re blog site. Most likely I’m planning to bookmark your blog post . You definitely have perfect articles. Thanks for sharing your web site.
What a nice set of posts in a week, I’ve read them all, and you really amaze me
I got what you mean , thankyou for putting up.Woh I am delighted to find this website through google.
Merely wish to say your post is as amazing. The clarity in your post is just spectacular and i could assume you’re an expert on this subject. Nicely along with your permission let me to grab your feed to preserve as much as date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please continue the enjoyable function.
“Excellently written article, if only all bloggers offered the same level of content as you, the internet would be a much better place. Please keep it up!”
Excellent post. I will pass it to my friends.
Heya i¡¦m for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out a lot. I am hoping to give something again and help others like you aided me.
Heya i¡¦m for the first time here. I came across this board and I to find It truly useful & it helped me out a lot. I am hoping to provide something again and help others like you helped me.
I don¡¦t even understand how I ended up here, however I thought this publish used to be great. I do not understand who you might be however definitely you are going to a well-known blogger in case you aren’t already
Cheers!
This is really fascinating, You’re a very skilled blogger. I have joined your feed and sit up for in search of more of your wonderful post. Additionally, I have shared your web site in my social networks!
I liked up to you will obtain performed right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored material stylish. nevertheless, you command get bought an shakiness over that you wish be turning in the following. sick definitely come further in the past once more since precisely the similar nearly very incessantly inside of case you protect this hike.
הובלות נוחות לכל כיס ומשתלמות במדינת ישראל. חברות הובלות בעלות רמה שלא נגמרות. רק היום, רק היום.
Heya i¡¦m for the first time here. I found this board and I to find It really helpful & it helped me out a lot. I’m hoping to provide one thing again and aid others like you aided me.
Top-notch article it is without doubt. I’ve been awaiting for this content.
It is appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I want to suggest you few interesting things or tips. Maybe you could write next articles referring to this article. I desire to read even more things about it!
Hi there, You have done a great job. Ill certainly digg it and personally recommend to my friends. I’m sure they will be benefited from this site.
Present on earth do you publish against your sites brand-new posts, imagery and flicks? Could possibly be quite curious to look at continually completely new articles in this article my good friend. Need you the best
Ultimate internet site – styles really unquie to my opinion. You may have truly great data there. Dream which you awesome time of day as well as best for your blog pal. Cya
Life has its own ups and downs, and you pointed that out in your blog, I thank you for that
Thank you for another excellent post. Where else could anybody get that type of info in such a perfect way of writing? I’ve a presentation next week, and I’m on the look for such info.
We’re a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your site offered us with valuable information to work on. You’ve done a formidable job and our whole community will be grateful to you.
The modern blog site developed through the on the internet diary where people would certainly maintain the operating consideration of their personal lives. The majority of such authors called on their own diarists journalists or even journalers. Justin Hall who started personal blogging in 1994 whilst students from Swarthmore University is normally recognized as one of the very first blog writers as is actually Jerry Pournelle. Dork Winer’s Scripting Information is also awarded with getting one of the oldest as well as greatest running weblogs. An additional early blog was Wearable Wireless Web cam an internet discussed diary of a individual’s individual life combining text movie and also photos transported are living from the wearable pc and also EyeTap device to an internet site within 1994.
I simply want to mention I’m very new to weblog and seriously savored your web page. Almost certainly I’m want to bookmark your site . You amazingly come with fantastic articles. Many thanks for sharing with us your web site.
Many thanks for being our instructor on this subject matter. My spouse and i enjoyed your article quite definitely and most of all cherished the way you handled the aspect I widely known as controversial. You are always very kind towards readers like me and assist me in my living. Thank you.
The current weblog developed from the on the internet diary in which individuals would maintain a jogging bill of the individual life. The majority of this kind of authors called them selves diarists journalists or journalers. Justin Corridor who started individual running a blog within 1994 whilst a student with Swarthmore University is normally recognized as one of the very first bloggers because is Jerry Pournelle. Dork Winer’s Scripting Information can also be acknowledged with becoming among the earliest and longest running weblogs. Another early weblog was Wearable Wireless Web cam an internet shared journal of the person’s individual living mixing textual content movie as well as pictures transmitted live from a wearable pc and also EyeTap gadget in order to an internet site within.
Its such as you read my mind! You appear to know so much approximately this, such as you wrote the e-book in it or something. I think that you simply could do with a few % to pressure the message home a bit, however instead of that, that is magnificent blog. A fantastic read. I’ll definitely be back.
Blogging can have unexpected effects inside politically delicate regions. Blogs usually are considerably tougher to regulate in comparison with transmitted as well as print out marketing. Subsequently, totalitarian in addition to authoritarian regimes typically seek in order to reduce sites and/or in order to penalize those who preserve all of them.
The current website developed from the on-line journal in which people might keep a running profile of their personal life. The majority of such authors called on their own diarists journalists or journalers. Justin Corridor who started personal running a blog in 1994 while a student from Swarthmore University is normally acknowledged among the earliest blog owners as is actually Jerry Pournelle. Dave Winer’s Scripting Information is also acknowledged along with getting among the oldest as well as greatest operating weblogs. Another early blog was Wearable Wireless Webcam an internet shared journal of the individual’s individual living mixing text movie and also pictures transmitted stay from a wearable computer and also EyeTap device in order to an internet site within.
Along with almost everything that seems to be developing inside this subject material, your opinions are generally fairly radical. Nevertheless, I beg your pardon, because I do not give credence to your whole theory, all be it refreshing none the less. It would seem to me that your comments are actually not entirely validated and in simple fact you are yourself not wholly certain of the argument. In any event I did take pleasure in reading it.
Excellent tips thanks a lot for posting about it. In truth in all of the articles and reviews of this blog you will find something to learn.
Thank you lots for supplying everyone incredibly marvellous opportunity to learn to read crucial reviews from here. It’s always therefore awesome and likewise jammed with fun for myself personally and my workplace partners to go looking your specific web site with a lowest thrice within a 7 days to see in the new stuff you could have. And then, I’m just always happy for your striking hints individuals present. Designated 2 tips within this submit are very the most amazing I’ve ever endured
Infinite discussion
This is simply not the first of your posts I’ve browse, and you simply never end to amaze me. Thank you, and i also await studying in future.
It’s hard to find educated folks on this matter, but you sound like you recognize what you’re talking about! Thanks
It’s really a nice and helpful piece of info. I’m glad that you shared this useful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.