When family members leave home, they leave their feathers behind them. Stuff in the attic, bottles in the bathroom. Remnants of the smells of their existence in the house. Sounds good and bad. When kids leave home, parents pass away or leave for a different life themselves or your partner decides they are happier elsewhere, You’re faced with remnants and questions.

You may know the changes that are coming, but not expect the impact. It’s no good brooding and wishing. You need to build a new life.

Preparation is good see  Empty Nest Syndrome Wikipedia

Start, even if you choose the wrong things you won’t get anywhere unless you start actively looking. Be prepared that your first choices won’t work. Keep going. Don’t get sucked into things you don’t really want to be doing.

What is your life?

What is your relationship with the person you may still be living with?

Grandparenting may happen and with overload. Your life is back to the old normal except you are more tired. You start to complain about not having time to  do the things you want to  or have always wanted to do. Before you know it, the empty nest feeling is back as they go to school and start to follow their many interests.

The many nativity plays you had to go to have been replaced with an hour at a rowdy birthday party. Now, what were those fun things you always wanted to do?

If reading is one of things, then try Marriage a Journey and a Dog . Life changes for Natalie at 40 when her unplanned empty nest  comes. .Marriage a Jounrey and a Dog