3 Tips To Help You Keep It Together When Your Kids Fly the Coop

Fall is the time when kids start returning to school. For parents with children who have just graduated from high school, fall is the time when children move out of the home and begin attending college. An estimated 66.2 percent of high school graduates will immediately enroll in college courses for the following semester.

If you are sending your last child off to college this fall, take the time to reflect on how this transition will affect your mental health.

Parents can experience a phenomenon known as empty nest syndrome once their last child leaves home. This particular syndrome has been linked to increased rates of depression, emotional distress, lack of engagement, and marital stress.

Fortunately, there are some simple strategies that you can employ to help you prevent empty nest syndrome from negatively impacting your life after your last child flies the coop.

1. Pursue New Interests

The act of parenting can be incredibly time-consuming. Parents often sacrifice the development of their own interests in order to help foster the interests of their children. With all of your children reaching adult age and moving out of the house, you will finally have the time required to pursue some new interests of your own.

Start by writing down a dream list of all the activities you have wanted to try throughout your life. Things like painting, learning to make sushi, or mastering a musical instrument may be on your list. Choose a couple of activities from your list and begin exploring these activities.

Most communities offer continuing education courses or learning annex classes geared toward working adults. Enrollment in these classes will not only help you to develop new skills and interests but also make new friends with whom you can spend some of your newfound free time.

2. Rekindle Your Romance

Your relationship with your partner can sometimes suffer when there are children in the home. Many parents find that they just don't have the time or energy it takes to invest in their marriage while raising small children.

Once all of your children are out of the house and living on their own, it's time to rekindle your romance.

Schedule regular date nights with one another. Explore new restaurants or activities with one another. It's important that you work together with your partner to make new memories during this transitional phase of your lives.

Some marriages end in divorce once couples no longer have the children to focus their attention on, so you must take an active role in redefining your relationship and getting to know your partner all over again.

3. Talk to a Professional

Children leaving the home can bring many emotional traumas to the surface. It's critical that you deal with these traumas and work through them in order to move forward with the next phase of your life.

Some people find it helpful to talk to a mental health professional while experiencing empty nest syndrome. Counseling can help you develop the skills you need to cope with the loss you feel when your kids leave home.

It's normal to feel sadness and grief, and you must allow yourself to experience these emotions. A counselor can help you learn to adjust to your new life and redefine your role in the lives of your children.

Being able to embrace your empty nest through counseling allows you to make the transition to an empty-nester much more readily.



You are bound to feel many complex emotions when a child leaves for college. Call Heritage Mental Health Clinic for more resources on coping with empty nest syndrome.