The Changing Nest

[View Online]( [DailyOM]( INSPIRATION [The Changing Nest]( As the nest empties, parents can alleviate the sadness by rediscovering themselves and honoring the strides their children have made. Once individuals become parents, they are parents forevermore. Their identities change perceptively the moment Mother Nature inaugurates them mom or dad. Yet the role they undertake when they welcome children into their lives is not a fixed one. As children move from one phase of their lives to the next, parental roles change. When these transitions involve a child gaining independence, many parents experience an empty nest feeling. Instead of feeling proud that their children have achieved so much—whether the flight from the nest refers to the first day of kindergarten or the start of college—parents feel they are losing a part of themselves. However, when approached thoughtfully, this new stage of parental life can be an exciting time in which mothers and fathers rediscover themselves and relate to their children in a new way. As children earn greater levels of independence, their parents often gain unanticipated freedom. Used to being depended upon by and subject to the demands of their children, parents sometimes forget that they are not only mom or dad but also individuals. As the nest empties, parents can alleviate the anxiety and sadness they feel by rediscovering themselves and honoring the immense strides their children have made in life. The simplest way to honor a child undergoing a transition is to allow that child to make decisions and mistakes appropriate to their level of maturity. Freed from the role of disciplinarian, parents of college-age children can befriend their offspring and undertake an advisory position. Those with younger children beginning school or teenagers taking a first job can plan a special day in which they express their pride and explain that they will always be there to offer love and support. An empty nest can touch other members of the family unit as well. Young people may feel isolated or abandoned when their siblings leave the nest. As this is normal, extra attention can help them feel more secure in their newly less populated home. Spouses with more leisure time on their hands may need to relearn how to be best friends and lovers. Other family members will likely grieve less when they understand the significance of the child’s new phase of life. The more parents both celebrate and honor their children’s life transitions, the less apprehension the children will feel. Parents who embrace their changing nest while still cherishing their offspring can look forward to developing deeper, more mature relationships with them in the future. [ ] DailyOM Course Spotlight [How to Parent Like A Buddhist]( Learn how to cultivate beautiful relationships with your children. Join mindfulness and communication expert Cynthia Kane in this course as she teaches Buddhist-inspired parenting principles that create nurturing, respectful rapport with kids. You’ll receive holistic tools to transform your current patterns and insightful guidance to help you have more open, mutually loving connections with each member of your family. [Learn More]( [ ] New Courses - [Soul-to-Soul Communication With Animals]( - [Powerful Wisdom to End Your Financial Worries]( - [The Binaural Beat Method for Better Sleep]( - [The Intuitive Power Behind Angel Numbers]( [ ] Read the Journal 5 Simple Rituals to Honor Earth Day [Read Article]( What Exactly Is the Enneagram — and What’s Your Type? [Read Article]( What Science Tells Us About the Power of Prayer for Our Health [Read Article]( [ ] Top 10 Courses - [Holistic Vagus Nerve Stretches for Immediate Relief]( - [Gentle Exercises to Eliminate Your Neck Hump]( - [Beneficial Stretches for the Inflexible]( - [Assert Yourself Without Isolating Others]( - [Talking to Dead People]( - [The 2-Week Fascia Miracle]( - [Shedding Your Menopausal Middle in 10 Days]( - [Overcoming Self-Neglect]( - [The Binaural Beat Method for Better Sleep]( - [Breaking Free From Addiction]( [DailyOM]( [ ] [facebook]( [instagram]( [pinterest]( [twitter]( You are receiving this email because you are signed up to receive emails from DailyOM. You are registered with {EMAIL}. [Inspirations]( | [Courses]( | [Horoscopes]( [Remove me from this list]( | [Help/FAQ]( Copyright © 2023 [Everyday Health, Inc.]( All rights reserved. DailyOM is among the federally registered trademarks of Everyday Health, Inc. and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. 114 Fifth Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10011 Subject to our [terms of service]( and [privacy policy](