The truth is that the Empty Nest isn’t really all that empty. It is actually a place full of ideas and possibilities that will blow your mind! It may seem very quiet and empty right after the kids have left for school, but soon it won’t feel that way. It takes time, but the Empty Nester Adventure is an enlightening one and one filled with promise.
What’s up for Spring Break? Baseball tournament? Football or Lacrosse practice? Rehearsal? Term Paper? Nope, none of the above.
Now that the nest is empty…WE are in charge of our holidays. Woo Hoo! What are we going to do? It’s time to start planning. Although I do miss those activities, it is our time to decide what new adventures we are interested in doing!
Can you slow down a little to get more of the big picture?
I receive a large number of emails asking about our “fixer upper” and questions regarding the entire adventure. Everyone loves HGTV these days don’t they? Every season there is a new city where couples are fixing up old homes and creating amazing living spaces. I can’t get enough. How about you?
Our “updated Spanish” designed kitchen and dining room are my happy place. They are bright and cheery, quaint and efficient. We don’t have a lot of extra room for “stuff”, therefore, we do not purchase multiple sets of dishes and glasses like we had prior to downsizing. Just the basics. Downsizing feels good. Everything has a place and if we want to buy something new, we need to get rid of something in order to make room.
We don’t have any Toys R Us shopping to do any longer or a list for Santa. Most of our shopping was done online, how about you? What we do have is lots of quality time with our grown children and our extended family. I think that is what Christmas is really about. We spend more time planning the menus and the handcrafted cocktails, making playlists and taking selfies and Boomerangs. What’s a Boomerang? It is an app where it takes a four second video and repeats it over and over. It’s creative and clever and everyone seems to be doing it. You can see more over on my Instagram=> Here!
Almost every day, I receive a request from a new blogger who is starting out or a company that would like to reach the Adventures of Empty Nesters audience. I spend a great deal of time answering the emails and doing my best to help without cutting in to my time for writing, sponsored posts, brand collaborations and TRAVEL!
Consulting with other bloggers has become a huge passion of mine and I have come to understand that after 3 ½ years of blogging experience, I have a lot to offer. I grew this blog readership person by person, reader by reader hoping to inform, inspire and connect. I love it. I really love it.
When our paths connect with others unexpectedly, it can enhance our lives immeasurably. How fun is it to watch someone’s dream become reality? How good does it feel to assist someone? To mentor someone?
The answer is fantastic! I just wanted to take this opportunity to share this newest adventure with you and hope you will share it with others.
I offer an introductory package that includes a one hour planning session along with a 30 minute follow up for $150.00 We can then meet (virtually) on an as needed basis.
Last year we were thrilled to be on their list for the Top Senior Adventurers. Southwest Discoveries offers unique itineraries, with expert guides for some fabulous tours of the Southwest. If you have a sense of adventure, want to break a little further away from your comfort zone and be enriched and awed by extraordinary places, these trips are designed for you.
Mitch Stevens, founder and lead guide from Southwest Discoveries shares,”In 2016 we decided to separate the wheat from the chaff and give you the absolute cream of the crop in our blog post entitled the Top Travel Blogs For Senior Adventures. In that post, we rounded up 50 Awesome Senior Adventures Travel Blogs that we felt you should be following. These blogs will transport you to fascinating and beautiful places and provide tools, tips, and techniques to help you get the most out of your travel.”
Who knew you could have so much fun with your adult kids? At first when the nest was empty I had a difficult time adjusting to the lack of schedule and focus on the kids’ every need. As time went on I learned that I was in charge of my own happiness and had to turn that focus back on to Craig and me.
I realized that although our children are no longer in our day-to-day lives, we could lead successful fulfilling lives, as well as build an equally happy adult relationship with them.
Now that the kids are grown and living on their own, we need to change the way we hang out, but we can still have lots of fun (maybe even more fun).Two times in three weekends we have spent quality time with Nick and his girlfriend Kylie and it worked out perfectly!
Is it me or are you noticing lots of adorable new puppies on your Facebook feed? From chocolate labs to teeny tiny Chihuahuas, they are coming home to stay with the empty nesters!
Ultimately, it may not the best idea for enhancing your new-found freedom. The kids are grown, the house is quiet and you get… A DOG? Why now? Why complicate your life with a new puppy? Because they are awesome!
Early this morning my sweet and thoughtful husband posted this same photo and announced this auspicious 40th year celebration. My initial reaction was “This will kill any interest in my post.” But then I realized I was being silly, who cares if anyone reads this, be grateful he wanted to share it with the social media world because he does it so rarely. In case you wanted more details, here are a few more. Thanks for reading.