Overcoming the Empty Nest

I’m a self-professed survivor of Empty Nest Syndrome. Well, technically I’m just a half-survivor since our youngest hasn’t yet graduated from high school. But I’m going with the word survivor nonetheless.

Our oldest left for college last fall (yep, that was about a year ago). It has taken me this long to process how such a milestone affected me, and to understand that even the departure of one child can turn a household sideways. Notice I didn’t say upside down (like the dark world in Stranger Things). That’s because I don’t think an Empty Nest is a bad thing….it’s an adjustment.

From the moment our high school senior confirmed her college choice that spring until we kissed her goodbye at the dorm, our family was caught up in a whirlwind of activity. Everything was super busy with all of the college paperwork, planning and logistics; super celebratory with all…