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

If you are a parent whose child is heading to college for the first time, or returning, hopefully you bought yourself a bandanna. Why, you ask? It lasts longer than Kleenex and is easier to find in your Mary Poppins bag filled with directions, camera, money, power bar, credit card, keys, and ID. I carried a blue one then. Now I am in the habit and carry a red one. People ask me,”What is that for?’ or they say, “Are you kidding me, you carry that in your purse everyday instead of tissues.” What can I say, I choose what I like. I for sure did not choose, sobbing once I got in the airplane... Read More