A garden has several phases, it doesn’t stop being a garden, or loose it’s purpose, when it enters another phase. Gardens cycle through being planned, prepared, placed, protected, harvested and preserved. I think parenting and making a home is similar.
My son graduated college, secured a good job, and recently got his first apartment. My daughter is a Sophomore in College, planning to get a Masters Degree, and potentially travel abroad in her Junior year. Our house feels different, and we are still working through what comes next.
Are we empty, is our home a deserted place lacking meaning, absolutely not. What does the phrase empty nest imply about people who don’t create homes with children. Does that mean they don’t have full homes? Parenting young children was awesome, but our life and who we are didn’t begin there, and hopefully doesn’t end there.
We absolutely loved raising our young kids and it was f…king hard at times, like juggling greased bowling balls. Parenting adult children is different, there’s the potential of what the next phase of our life offers without the intense time and energy young children require.
After planning, and hard work, we are reaping wonderful rewards . We have adult children we enjoy spending time with, without obligations or racing around. We can focus resources, time, and energy in new directions, with friends, community and towards each other. We are not in an empty nest, but a bountiful harvest garden.
LIFE, FAMILY and FUN 