it’s a real thing…

As a grandparent seeing our grandchildren from birth to mature years enriches our lives and we happily share many great adventures and milestones along the way. When the time comes to further their studies or fly the nest, do grandparents genuinely feel a true sense of loss? Oh yes, we do!

When we first experienced the empty nest syndrome with our children, we were at an age where we may have had to help older parents. We may have also been working, so there were many other roles we played to offset the feelings of sadness and even grief. That is not to say it wasn’t hard the first time round, because for some it’s very difficult. But when our grandchildren came along it was as if we were given a new lease on life, a new adventure and a renewed journey. We took on a new identity, that of grandparent and this is a very special, meaningful role. It is no wonder that when our grandchildren leave the nest we feel bruised a second time because that identity diminishes.

For most the difficulty lies with the uncertainty of when we will next see our grandchild. When they set off on their adventure, they have a lot of learning and growing up to do and they have a great surge of independence. When they return you may see major changes, which may be difficult to digest at first. It’s the end of an era and this makes us feel older too.

What to do when it is time for your grandchildren to fly the nest?

1. When they announce they are moving on and out, show great enthusiasm, be proud of their achievements and excited for their future. Appreciate that this is an emotional time for them too, so try and be supportive where possible.
2. When they are settled in their new surroundings, hopefully your grandchildren will want to stay in touch. Give them an open invitation to visit whenever they would like, but don’t corner them to give you a date straight away.
3. Just like when your own children left home, to ease the stress of Double Empty Nest syndrome, pursue new hobbies of interest to you. Look at this as a new chapter in your life. You may have extra time on your hands as your now relieved of many grand parenting duties.

In addition, always consider the emotions of your son/daughter or in laws as they are likely to be feeling ‘empty nest syndrome’ multiplied by ten, so invite them around and ask them how they are feeling.

*Portions of the article sourced from: www.50connect.co.uk