The term “Empty Nest Syndrome ” sounds quite sad, doesn’t it? Whenever you read or hear about it, the one word that always stands out is “parental loneliness.” But this loneliness isn’t something that began in recent times—it has been going on for centuries. If we take a moment to look back at earlier times, we can see that the parents’ experience today would have been felt by their parents in the past, and even before that, their parents would have experienced the same kind of sadness due to an empty nest. And perhaps our future generations might also feel the same way. This means that it hasn’t started just now; it has been a part of human life for ages. In fact, you could say that it is the destiny of every individual to experience it at some point in their life.
Empty nest syndrome doesn’t have a definitive definition; although empty nest syndrome lacks a clinical diagnosis, it represents an emotional phase in which parents perceive a shift in their parental role. When children become occupied with their work, education, or their own world, where they are busy, or when they step out of their homes to pursue their ambitions, it brings a sudden, significant change for parents. The first and foremost change is loneliness. Parents who were once engaged from morning to night, taking care of every little detail of their children’s lives, find themselves suddenly facing a life transition; feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety become overwhelming. In my view, it’s a feeling that each one of us can interpret based on our understanding. Parents play a vital role in their children’s upbringing and progress.
If you look closely, this syndrome has some layers. On one hand, parents themselves want their children to move ahead and explore the world, and on the other hand, the same parents, who set aside their dreams and ambitions to make their children their entire world, suddenly find themselves alone.
Some aspect we can see is that many women set aside their ambitions, full attention, careers, passions, or dreams—what they aspire to be—because when children come into their lives, they become their entire world.
Time keeps moving forward like this, and a moment comes when children aren’t able to spend time with their parents. It’s because children have their lives to live—they have friends, careers, and studies, and they often go away for education. To some extent, parents themselves want their children to move ahead in life, as the world is so vast and there’s so much for the children to see and experience. Progressing with time is essential. But when children step out, parents suddenly find themselves alone, and this is when the empty nest blues, or syndrome, begins.
But have you ever thought that this is exactly what we wanted? For our children to see the outside world, stand on their own feet, and become self-dependent. Yes, amidst the loneliness and pain, there is also a hidden happiness. Once, we too had left our parents to move forward in life and take on our own responsibilities. That same tradition continues even today. All we need is to keep our mindset entirely positive.
And this expectation is also wrong, isn’t it—that children should spend their entire lives revolving around their parents.
This is absolutely true, isn’t it? Only when we let the kite’s string loose into the open sky will the kite soar high.
How to positively handle empty nest syndrome:
Here are some suggestions that can help in handling this syndrome:
- Self-care: Spend time with yourself and your partner. In the hustle and bustle of life so far, you may not have been able to spend quality time together. Now is the perfect time to do so. While taking care of everyone else, it’s also time to carve out moments for yourself. Such an act will be a very positive step, and as you start doing it, the loneliness will gradually diminish, and you’ll begin to see everything in a positive light and remain happy.
- Communicate and connect with your children: Your children are a reflection of you. So, even if they are living far away, they are always close to your heart. Always maintain a connection and communication with them.
- Build a healthy social community: It is very important to have a healthy environment and a healthy social circle for good mental health. When you laugh and talk with your friends and neighbours and share heartfelt conversations, you’ll feel a completely different, positive energy within yourself. It is absolutely true that a healthy social gathering is one of the best remedies for mental well-being.
Essence: I would like to address those women who set aside their passion, their dreams, and their ambitions to prioritize their responsibilities and fulfill them entirely. To them, this message is: before your children leave the nest, it is crucial to start pursuing your own passions or dreams—move towards something other than just your children. Because it’s not necessary for children to always be with you, nor is it right to hold them back. After all, we want them to move ahead and explore the world, and letting go is essential; otherwise, how will they progress? To manage yourself, dedicate time to yourself, and learn to love yourself all over again.
Dear Readers,
Thank you for reading. Please keep sharing your opinion. Stay positive, stay healthy, and stay connected.
~Preeti😊
Nutrinirvana 