When all the children have left home parents find themselves in one of two situations. Either they become depressed because the house seems so quiet and empty or they are ecstatic that they finally, after so many years, have their home to themselves again.

Empty Nest Syndrome is very common, especially among mothers, since they tend to be the primary care givers to the children in most households, but fathers are just as susceptible.

Mothers who have dedicated their lives to taking care of their families and now there is nothing left can have trouble making the adjustment. They can feel as if their life has no meaning anymore now that their primary job of mother is done. If there is no one to take care of they are no longer useful for anything.
Some parents find that their marriages begin to fall apart after the children leave the home. They realize that the only thing they had in common was the children and now with them gone there is nothing left between them. For some this can be the beginning of the end for their marriage.

For others they take this time of adjustment as a challenge and begin to rebuild a relationship as a couple. They take advantage of the time alone to remember why they fell in love with each other all those years ago. These are the parents who have been waiting 18 years or more for the chance to live a life of their own again. This isn’t to say that they don’t love their children. They just know that now is their time again and they are going to make the most of it. If you have parents like this you may not want to walk back into their house unannounced. You may get the shock of your life.

You may even find that when you go home a couple of weeks later your room has already been changed into a new exercise room or the den your father always wanted. Don’t take it personally. It isn’t their way of making sure that you can’t come home again. It is just them finally getting to do some of the things they have always wanted to but only now have a chance to.

Leaving home isn’t just difficult for children, it can be a rough transition for the parents as well. Depending upon the type of person you are, your children leaving home can be a blessing or a curse. It all depends on you.