There’s nothing like deep-from-the-gut laughter that catches you off-guard and nearly knocks you to the ground! Laughter that is pure changes the atmosphere, inside and out. It makes you feel fully alive. When Matt and I were newly married, something he’d said or done made me frustrated. As I stood at the kitchen sink washing dishes, […]
The Cycle of Life Continues
Mom, are you feeling like the cycle of life has just ended with your son or daughter moving out and moving on? That may sound a bit dramatic, but often sums up the emotions at the moment. A raw, grinding end to life as you knew it. In times like these, perspective can be a […]
Learning to Navigate Family Traditions in the Empty Nest
Whether it’s Christmas, birthdays, Saturday morning pancakes, or spring break vacations, learning to navigate family traditions in the empty nest catches many parents off-guard. You expect the emotional roller coaster when the kids move out or go to college, and even the black hole of not hearing from them for stretches of time. But do […]
Learning to Say “Yes!” Again
As parents, we’ve had to say “No” a lot. To our kids, yes. But also to ourselves. Certain dreams and activities had to be laid down for the sake of the whole family. More often than not, you put money toward the health, needs, and wants of the kids over your own. But now that the […]
10 Ways to Savor Life After Your Kids Leave Home
Eight years of living in my own empty nest, along with talking to other empty nest moms, has shown me we commonly fall into one of two ditches when the kids go off to college. Either we don’t feel like doing anything. Or we find ourselves on a hamster wheel of busyness. Whether you’re fighting […]