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Great News: It’s Possible to Successfully Downsize Your Life And Benefit Financially, While Simultaneously Launching a Great, New Lifestyle

January 17th, 2023

By Anne L. Holmes, NABBW’s Boomer in Chief Periodically, as we Boomers age through the various stages of our lives, there come times when we face a major crossroad and we have to make huge, life-altering decisions. These days, instead of those decisions being related to school, work, marriage or the birth of our children or grandchildren, many of our crossroads  experiences begin with the letter “D.” As in “Disease,” “Divorce,” “Death” — and that other one, much less less serious, but still daunting — “Downsizing.” Today,... Read More

As You Celebrate the Special Life Events the Spring and Summer Bring, Remember: Someone Believes in You

May 14th, 2015

By Natalie Caine, MA, for the NABBW Think about all those special life milestones and events: Wedding, Graduation, New job, New parenting, A new grandchild, A relocation, Even a new day — All these are happy changes. And behind your smiles and raised glasses, there are people standing up for you. Supporting you. They believe in you. They give to you because they want you to understand that you matter. They want you to have bricks under your feet. They want you to feel hugged. We forget to visit happy memories as moon light to help you stand, over and over when you collapse, and when... Read More

Parents Need to Recognize Their Goals for Collegiate Spring Break May Not Match Their Student’s Desires

March 17th, 2015

By Natalie Caine, M.A. NABBW’s Associate for Life in Transition Whether you are a first time parent of a college student or an experienced one, as Spring Break arrives, it’s likely you are planning their favorite meals and watching the clock, hoping their plane or car arrives on time. You’re anxious to have your family finally be “all together again.” And you can’t wait to finally see their faces! Meanwhile, your favorite college student likely has a totally different set of goals. I remember a group of college kids shared with me that they have been so stressed... Read More

Is It the Season for After School Afternoons with a Kitchen Full Of Kids Doing Homework and Eating Snacks? Not in the Empty Nest

August 11th, 2014

By Natalie Caine, M.A. NABBW’s Associate for Empty Nest Back to school is already happening.  Parents are checking the lists and encouraging their children\’s hearts, saying, “All will be fine, it is going to be a fantastic year.” Then there is you, Mom and Dad.  I remember when I dropped my daughter off at college, three thousand miles from home. I knew I would be fine and I knew I would be sad. I did not know what I wanted to do with the free time nor with the longing for the phone to ring with her on the other end.  Sure texts were a connection, but there is nothing... Read More

What Should You Do When You Feel Unhappy? Consider Starting a Daily Practice

June 23rd, 2014

What Should You Do When You Feel Unhappy? Consider Starting a Daily Practice  By Natalie Caine, M.A. NABBW’s Associate for Life in Transition  The book “A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles,” by Marianne Williamson suggests that we daily ask, Where would you have me go? What would you have me do? What would you have me say and to whom? Whether you are preparing for a change (empty nest, divorce, career, illness, loss) or just suddenly find yourself sitting “in the midst of it,” people always ask what helps me. Sometimes weeping or... Read More

In Honor of Mother\’s Day: What\’s the Best Advice Your Mother Ever Gave You?

May 9th, 2014

In Honor of Mother\’s Day: What\’s the Best Advice Your Mother Ever Gave You? By Natalie Caine, M.A. NABBW’s Associate for Life in Transition Do you wonder what your kids would say to that question? It might be fun to ask them on Mother\’s Day. Here is a short list of what advice was given to women, by their mothers, from my circle: Help others even if you feel shy. Go for it because the clock is ticking. Hold your own hand. You don\’t have to see it. Pray anyhow. Open the door for others. Try again and again. Save money as soon as you make some. Nothing lasts forever,... Read More

Celebrate Love This February. Specifically, Choose to Focus on What You Love About Yourself

January 24th, 2014

Celebrate Love This February. Specifically, Choose to Focus on What You Love About Yourself By Natalie Caine, M.A. NABBW’s Empty Nest Expert Focus is important. I enjoy choosing a focus for each month. With February around the corner, it is natural to choose to focus on love. It\’s always a great focus. But for today, let\’s not focus on ludus, or eros, which are the Greek terms for romantic and sexual love. And let\’s not talk about agape, either. That\’s the Greek term for family love. Instead, let\’s focus on self-love. But before you start thinking I\’m... Read More

The Holidays Are Upon Us: How Are You Doing At Projecting an Image of “Warmth and Welcome?”

November 24th, 2013

The Holidays Are Upon Us: How Are You Doing At Projecting an Image of “Warmth and Welcome?” By Natalie Caine, M.A. NABBW’s Empty Nest Expert Thanksgiving and holiday time brings out the shine, goodies and beauty, as well as my black stretch pants.   I love the holidays for its anticipation, creativity, memories of loved ones, sentiments, and new traditions. When we travel and gather, like a decorated room, we mix and match.  We move our lives around, like chairs, and hope for comfort and connection. I know holidays also bring expectations and disappointments from the mundane... Read More

What Do You Worry About?

October 19th, 2013

What Do You Worry About? By Natalie Caine, M.A. NABBW’s Empty Nest Expert Changes, like empty nest, bring up past losses and worries. Your inner critic may have a feast saying things in your head that aren’t true. Recently, our group shared what worries them. Perhaps some of the items on their list sound familiar to you. How about: Not hearing from my kids for weeks Not feeling important/needed Lose of interest in my partner Lack of passion No sex drive at this stage of life Being lonely Finances not being enough for my future Health limitations that will make me feel old and not able... Read More

Is Empty Nest Necessary?

October 13th, 2013

Is Empty Nest Necessary? By Natalie Caine, M.A. NABBW’s Empty Nest Expert In my group, sweet Susan said with a slight laugh, “Loss is necessary but is empty nest?” We were talking about the cumulative losses over our lifetimes. Susan was having a sad day. Her bottom line essentially boiled down to this, “I tried for months to get pregnant, then put up with enforced bed rest in order to stay pregnant, then once he got to age two I had to raise him by myself, etc.,  Yet no one told me loss is necessary and he will leave, and won’t put a thank-you note in my mailbox. Experts... Read More