Empty Nests Support Group

Do you guys have no advice, or do you just not care?

I know how you feel. My daughter and I are very closed as well. This is her third year of college away from home. I miss her whenever she goes back to school, but I know she is there so she can hopefully have a better career. meanwhile we do talk on the phone at lease every other day and that helps. she's only about two hours away from home so that helps also. My son is beginning his first year at a community college but he's hardly at home also-so I feel a void now. My advice is as long as you know you have shown your child lots of love while they are home you've did your best and a child doesn't forget the love a parent has shown.

i am going thru the same thing right now so not sure i can be alot of help except to tell you you arent alone. i feel like i am losing my mind also. my life has always revolved around my kids. but we arent losing our minds we are turning another bend in our lives another phase. one i wish m mom had explained to me so i knew what to expect as a mother when this new chapter opens up. i am told it does get better. we just have to believe that and keep busy. like you with the exception my daughter is four hours away and my son is 3. i can go see them whenever i want and they do come home a little. im with ya girl lets talk again

All three of my children have left the nest and the change was the hardest with the third. I remind myself that this is the goal of every parent to nurture their children so that they are able to become independent of us. I am still very close to all my children and they call me almost everyday. They keep me very involved (sometimes more than I wish) in their new lives and I try to give them any support they need without interfering where they don't want me. I am now doing much more for myself and focusing on my husband, friends and dogs. I have to admit that the dogs have filled a big gap left by the children moving out. It is probably best to look for support from a friend rather than your daughter. She is going through a big change herself and instead of worry about you she needs to make her own adjustments. She will always be your little girl no matter where she is.

cbulman has some great advice. I'm a single mom and my son started college last week, however, he's living at home. I'm not sure which is worse...we used to be very close, traveled a lot, spent a lot of time together. For the past 8 months I've barely seen him and he's so guarded about his life. It's like watching from afar. I have devoted my life to him and I am so happy to see him developing into a young man, but it's so lonely and sad for me sitting on the wayside and dealing with all the changes. It's especially hard when I see young kids with their moms knowing that part of my life is over.

this is hard. i am very close to my daughter and my oldest son and i have a very strong relationship. my youngest son and i are very close also. i miss my older kids so much it hurts sometimes. i don't know what to do with myself and i to watch mothers with kids and know i will never have that again with my own. i always wanted to be a mom and love being a mom. i know i will always be mom but i want to take care of cuddle protect and hold on to my kids.

My youngest will be going to college next year and I already can't handle it. My biggest worry is her safety. I won't be close enough to protect her then and it scares me alot. I don't want anyone to hurt her. She's a very sweet and innocent young lady and I know by college visits recently that there is alot of drinking on campuses and that really worries me as I don't want any jerky guy slipping her something in a drink.

i just sent my son to college last month, and i find myself communicating with him in a new way. we text daily. trust me when i tell you this is not my first choice, i am not all that great with technology, i get to "talk" to him, and he does not feel like i am always trying to check up on him. try it. i added to my cell phone plan and it is the best thing. he texts me all the time about whatever. good luck.