Now that your kidults are settled back in college, does the thought of creating a more grown-up nest cross your mind? Can you visualize more simplicity and less chaos? Think about what it would be like to clean out the drawers, give away the memorabilia no one in the family wants and make your home yours again.
If you decide to make a change, it will be an ongoing process, with both positive and negative emotions. This transition signifies the end of an important chapter in your life - the house full of family and activity, of growing children and all their antics. You may mourn the loss of many things, material and otherwise - valuable pieces of history relegated to the attic or sold for some ridiculous price, the hard discs of your past life, memories triggered by stuff. Yet, you'll grow to feel content, surrounded by what is most important to you – perhaps the photo albums that trace your family history, souvenirs from your travels or your treasured books - and all the precious memories that you carry around in your head.
As members of the Sandwich Generation, what sort of changes can you anticipate making? Perhaps begin by just thinking about the possibilities. Next week we'll share some ideas about how to get started.
Labels: Baby Boomers, downsizing, grown up nest, Sandwich Generation, transition
posted by Nourishing Relationships @ 8:39 PM
3 Comments:
I am simply amazed at the timing of this message and its focus. I am just now in the process of doing ALL things you mention, in getting the empty nest comfy for myself and my husband now that my son is far away. Photo albums, special mementos from travels, books...suddenly the important "keepables" loom and the other stuff can go. love your blogsite. I am linking it to my "sandwich generation" site, http://www.sandwichgeneration-tunasalad.blogspot.com, completely across the country from you. Thanks. Your ideas are soothing and helpful.
In my nonfiction book Rightsizing Your Life, published by Springboard Press last January, I interviewed scores of people expressing the same desire as so aptly detailed in this latest Nourishing Relationship post about simplifying surroundings to make them suit their current age, stage, and situation--and not the life they used to lead when the kids lived at home, there were dogs to feed and meals to put on the table each night. But HOW to simplify while not letting go of the things that still have meaning and value--both the physical possessions and those elements in one's life of a more emotional nature? That was the subject I wrote about, receiving some amazing answers and how to's from others going through similar "Passages." btw, Gail Sheehy, an old reporter pal of mine, wrote the Foreword while she was going through a challenging passage of her own! Ciji Ware
As a college admission counselor, I see the impact on the family when a child goes off to college. When my friend’s last child left for college, she stood in the supermarket and sobbed when she realized she no longer needed to buy a whole gallon of milk. Of course, the upside to an empty nest is having the time to pursue interests that have been put aside, including the opportunity to learn new things. I recently decided to start a program for adults who take great joy in learning and want to share that with like-minded people. Back To College For A Day offers an exhilarating day of four compelling lectures by the most popular professors from top Los Angeles area colleges. The first program, October 27th, at Mt. St. Mary’s College in Brentwood, will include lectures on:
Bias in the Media: Are You Getting the Real Story?
The Coming Pandemic: Why Influenza is a Major Threat
The U.S. Congress in the American Political System
Police States Past and Present
For more information, feel free to call 818-704-4207 or go to www.backtocollegeforaday.com
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