Fun in the Empty Nest By Natalie Caine, M.A. NABBW’s Empty Nest Expert Parents ask me what I do for fun since they are gathering new ideas for themselves. Here\’s a short list: Read about chefs, meet them and eat at their restaurants (do you know who is in the photo I captured?) Start my day with black coffee and pruning my organic veggie and flower garden Read novels and newspapers Movies with chocolate covered pretzels for snack Out to dinner with hubby so we can catch up and laugh away from home Day trips on the road Music Yoga Zumba Cooking Time with friends, anywhere,... Read More

Summer of Changes By Natalie Caine, M.A. NABBW’s Empty Nest Expert Transitions for adults and children bring frustration. How does it show itself in your family? Not sleeping. Irritability. Yelling. Immobile. Overeating. A family shared with me they want a fun, happy summer, but the fears grip them. Not enough money, too many people back in the house, relationship is all about problem solving and details, and yes, the not knowing how to handle the unknowns that come up. Have a check in party where each says what is on their mind and the others truly listen. Keep it brief. Each person... Read More

Beauty In The Pieces By Natalie Caine, M.A. NABBW’s Empty Nest Expert Beauty in the pieces. Graduations, being a BOOMER, retirement, job loss, divorce, empty nest, marriage, new career, travel, are transitions. You know where you have been. You enter a cycle of both excitement and uncertainty about your new daily life. Beauty in the pieces means you allow yourself small steps, reflections, and openness to see beyond what is visible. You recall what you love about the life you had . List those thoughts. Take just three minutes and write. Read it out loud to yourself. Write what you love... Read More

How Do You Begin In A Transition? By Natalie Caine, M.A. NABBW’s Empty Nest Expert An empty nest parent called shyly tearful about her daughter leaving for college and her not knowing what life will be like in the emptiness. When you leave the familiar to the unknown, tears fall and your inner doubter chats away in your sweet mind. You are not alone. You are on a walk where you are invited to go within and unfold new parts of you that had to go dormant while daily parenting. Who wouldn’t feel scared with a major life shift of roles?  The parent you were is called to step back. I wept... Read More

Get-Aways for Learning and Relaxation, As Well As, New Friendships By Natalie Caine, M.A. NABBW’s Empty Nest Expert Parents, Boomers, Empty Nesters, and Young Adults have asked me about Red Mountain Spa, Utah. Destination and resort spa in Southern Utah — hiking, wellness, Spa, red rocks, outdoors — is where I will be teaching LIFE IN TRANSITION, WHAT’S NEXT, April 9th-16th. I am also offering private sessions for the week so you can go deeper with your needs. Below is an overview of the workshop: From the Inside Out It\’s time for you to gather input from inside... Read More

The Way We Were. How Does that Help Me? By Natalie Caine, M.A. NABBW’s Empty Nest Expert Do empty nesters and boomers remember the pressures they lived?  A client shared with me that she doesn’t use her past experiences as a tool for her new. What is helpful about looking in the rear view mirror is the ability to reflect what challenges you did over come and how you did that. A starter, which is often missing  in beginning, is to ask yourself: 1.    What comes easily to you? For me, communicating is easier than learning a new gadget operation. 2.    What distracts you? “I have... Read More

Valentine, Do You Believe In Love Anymore? By Natalie Caine, M.A. NABBW’s Empty Nest Expert Parents, Empty Nesters, and Boomers ask me, “With all the stories you hear, do you still believe in real love?”  Real.  How do you define real?  The surprise is there are secrets couples live because they don’t feel they have a clan that would understand. They are OK with their choice of what real love is for them. If it works, it works. You have heard a list of how love works well: listen, give, surprise, get off the routine wheel, be happy. Yes, I for sure believe in love. Maybe you want... Read More

Boomers and Empty Nesters 2011, Now What? By Natalie Caine, M.A. NABBW’s Empty Nest Expert I love new beginnings but Baby Boomers and Empty Nesters have expressed to me they worry as they enter the NEW. Worry is just one color, one sound, in a full orchestra of a self. Who hasn\’t felt worried and out of control? Let worry express and then move.  “I am not going to think about that now. I am going to think about (fill in the blank). I have been thinking about…..all day and I am sick of, sick of.  For some people when they express and they say, I AM NOT GOING TO THINK... Read More

What Traditions Do You Do For the Holidays? By Natalie Caine, M.A. NABBW’s Empty Nest Expert Empty Nesters, Boomers and those in life transitions, share their traditions: Read a children\’s book Christmas Eve and then add it to the collection for your children when they will be parents Make candy apples while playing favorite holiday sing along songs Open one present Christmas Eve Open the stocking in bed in the morning even when the children are older than 17 or they don\’t get the stocking. Cuddle time is good at any age Take a hike Go to the movies Visit relatives Make seasoned... Read More

Do You Worry About Your Emerging Adults? By Natalie Caine, M.A., NABBW’s Empty Nest Expert Parents ask me if their children’s behavior of indecisiveness is damaging? I believe there is the up side and the down. You learn through choices and mistakes. When you become immobile that is limiting and frightening.  Get help. When you move slower you see and feel more.  Children might take a break from education, work and choose an internship or travel. Some marry late and make different choices for a spouse because of time they chose being solo. Your children aren’t you and you don’t... Read More