Read an Excerpt
Empty Nest Therapy
By Lisa O. Engelhardt, R. W. Alley Abbey Press
Copyright © 2014 Lisa O. Engelhardt
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4976-9364-7
CHAPTER 1
1.
Your child is moving on—to college, his own place, marriage. You have given him roots of stability and wings to soar. Congratulate yourself for a job well done!
2.
The purpose of parenthood is to nurture and prepare children, so that one day they can fly solo. Yet this turning point can bring on a rush of confusing emotions for you.
3.
While you may be proud your child has made it to this milestone, you may also feel sad and deflated. Accept your feelings, whatever they are.
4.
It may seem that your child has outgrown you or doesn't need you anymore. Know that your child still needs you—just in a less "hands on" way.
5.
You've invested much love, time, hope, worry, (and, yes, money!) in raising your child. It's normal to miss him and your old, familiar life.
6.
Your life may seem "out of kilter" right now. Reassure yourself that this is normal—and temporary.
7.
You might feel nostalgic for the time when your child was a little one. Cherish those memories, even as you prepare to move on to a new phase of life.
8.
Let yourself grieve your losses: your child's physical presence, the school and extracurricular activities in which you participated, the child-based rhythm and routine of your life.
9.
If you had some contentious times in the past with your child, you may have regrets. Parenting is difficult and doesn't come with a foolproof manual. Forgive yourself for any missteps.
10.
At the most, this is a deep loss for you. At the least, it's an adjustment that takes time. In fact, each of your children's departure from home can cause a different kind of loss and adjustment.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Empty Nest Therapy by Lisa O. Engelhardt, R. W. Alley. Copyright © 2014 Lisa O. Engelhardt. Excerpted by permission of Abbey Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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