May the holidays first bring comfort, connection, and kindness to you and then extend towards others. What helps me is: Doing what I love to do Pacing my energy so I am not depleted Lowering my expectations in order to be present in the moment. In my November article on this web, I talked about how to care for yourself and your kids who are coming to visit for the holidays. I also talked about what to do if you are alone which really does hurt. December is a month of celebrations from all types of spiritual traditions. In the hurriedness of work, shopping, cooking, decorating, mailing, emotions... Read More

The kids are coming home to fill the empty nest for Thanksgiving. Here is a reality check to make the weekend fun and connected: They aren\’t who they were when they left. They have gotten more autonomous. They want time with their friends. They don\’t want to plan far ahead. They haven\’t slept much. They ate lousy food. They have homework. They don\’t like a lot of questions. They love the comfort and memories of home sweet home. They love you deeply. You are cleaning, looking at recipes, marketing, cooking, and adding beauty to your home. You are so excited that... Read More

A GATHERING FOREMPTY NEST WOMEN All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter into another. – Gail Sheehy, PASSAGES (1979) About Natalie Caine Natalie Caine M.A. is the founder of Empty Nest Support Services and http://www.emptynestsupport.com/ , launched in 2001. You can listen to her live interview with Lifetime Radio Network for Women on her website. Natalie has been featured in newspapers and magazines as an expert for empty nesters. She has taught Anticipating the Empty Nest... Read More

The road you have traveled for eighteen years as parents is turning a corner, headed for a bridge. What is the truth about what is on the other side of the bridge? What changes do you have to address in order to stay healthily connected in your new role and your adult child\’s role with you? Does this change mean filling in free time or deeply discovering parts of yourself you had to put in the trunk? Crying is mandatory. Ok, there are no rules so forget mandatory. But I would bet tears will fall when you least want them plugging your nose and smearing your eyes. Last year a mom called me... Read More

I am an empty nester who loves being a mom. I don\’t love my career anymore, and now I have to figure out “What do I want to be when I grow up? Coping with the quiet house and no fussing over meals, and no more soccer games is a big hole for me. That is just part of the darkness. I was on committees at her school and did morning car pool when she was younger. We watched old videos of her, with Kleenex and popcorn tossed on the floor, right before her send off to college. How could this go so fast? I never thought about the empty nest until she was a junior in high school. It wouldn\’t... Read More

When one\’s life is in transition, questions arise about wanting a gigantic change, an alteration or a variation of what is already there. Below are some questions to consider.• What are the “normal” thoughts and feelings during this cycle? How long does the “grieving” last? • Whether you are a parent who chose a career or not, you are a parent who is going through this major transition. A cycle of your life is ending. What are your dreams now? • How do you build a new community now that school days with your child are over? • How do you continue... Read More

How do you feel about these values and how does your partner. How can you help each other? Learning something new Staying in touch with your health challenges and successes Financial security, savings and retirement Family needs and time together Having your home the way you like it as far as decorating inside and outside Community service Feeling productive each day Friendships Spiritual practices Travel Entertainment weekly Children Stretching yourself to learn more about who you are and who you aren\’t. Who you might become? Desire to change bad habits Happiness Having fun ... Read More