When Boomerang Kids Move Back Home By Phyllis Goldberg, Ph.D. and Rosemary Lichtman, Ph.D. Not since the Great Depression have so many fledgling adults moved into the empty nest with mom and dad. This cyclical trend has accelerated along with the economic crisis. Faced with school loans, debts or no job, it makes sense to head for home – with its emotional security and financial safety net. If you\’re a member of the Sandwich Generation, caring for parents growing older as well as kids growing up, adding a boomerang kid to that mix can increase your stress level. Recently the statistics... Read More

Five Things Empty Nesters Shouldn\’t Say to Their Children By Natalie Caine, M.A. NABBW’s Empty Nest Expert Five Things Empty Nesters Shouldn\’t Say to Their Children: 1. You never call. Shift that to, I would love to get an email, text, or call from you even it is short. I know you are busy. 2. You always wait until the last minute. Judgment distances us from those we love. They know they procrastinate. Shift to; you know your style of getting things done. Do you think it would be difficult to change that? 3. You go see them and not us anymore. Shift to, it must be hard to juggle... Read More

Empty Nest Support Group By Natalie Caine, M.A. NABBW’s Empty Nest Expert Whether you are on your way to emptying your nest or already sitting in it, the role you lived as parent shifts. Who are you beyond mother? Who are you beyond father? When you sit with others who are on a similar journey, you feel a bonding, a clan, a place to be right where you are with your full range of thoughts and feelings. Until you hug your children goodbye and come back home to their empty room and silence, it isn\’t real. You think about. You wonder how you will be and what will be next for you?... Read More

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

I Struggle Too With Transitions By Natalie Caine, M.A. NABBW’s Empty Nest Expert Parents, college grads, worker bees, boomers, married and single, all want the one, two, three directions so they don\’t cry or stay in bed all day while not knowing WHAT\’S NEXT. Wanting and reality sit on the same bench. Separate them. “I just want to know already.” “I am still in shock and need to be for now.” You have been in the unknown before. How did you get through those times? My clients tell me they don\’t remember. They do remember when we name situations... 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

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 Parents, Jump In Puddles By Natalie Caine, M.A. NABBW’s Empty Nest Expert The mourning of the Tucson tragedy affects each of us uniquely as memories of loss and fears of loss surface. None of us knows when deep sorrow puts the brakes on our lives as we knew it. Comfort yourself, comfort others. Sit face to face with what you love. Let yourself be the playful child and jump in puddles. One of the stories that stays with me over the years of my work is a mother who said, “I watch my children play and I don\’t jump in.” What in your life might you jump into? Take... Read More