Does it feel impossible to be thankful for your empty nest?
When I was driving to pick up my grandson from school last Friday, I was looking at all the vibrant changes of color on the trees.
Around here fall means raking leaves, scraping frost off our windshields in the morning, wearing coats, and running from the door to the car before you freeze.
But it also means that spectacular color show from the trees, hot cocoa, warm cider, apple orchards, cozy sweaters, and the first snowfall.
Each season comes with its share of beauty and pain. Holidays in the empty nest are no different. Certain traditions aren’t possible to maintain when miles separate the members of the family. As young adults start their careers and begin their own households schedules can be hard to align. As the children marry they have another family that desires to spend time with them so their availability is cut in half.
But just like fall has it’s own beauty the empty nest does too.
Here are 7 reasons I’m thankful for my empty nest:
- Relaxing evenings. I remember school nights with the kids where we were frantically looking for clean clothes for the next day. Trying to gather any school items that needed to be signed or returned. Getting the kids off the phone or away from the television and back at their homework. Staying up until 1 a.m. waiting for them to get home from their job at local retailers and the mall. But now evenings are spent in a quiet, relaxing home – maybe watching an episode of This is Us (anyone else a fan out there?!). Spending some time in God’s word. Cuddling on the couch with my hubby while we watch a movie. Ah yes, there is something so right about these new relaxing evenings.
- Grabbing a coffee or a meal with a friend. Without having multiple schedules to manage it’s much easier to line up a dinner date with a friend or even make it a double-date with another couple.
- Spending more quality time with my husband. One thing I’ve noticed is how much we laugh together now. Not at each other, well, sometimes we do. 😉 But I mean with each other. For a large portion of the time, while we were raising kids, I was working full time at a credit union and my husband worked afternoons at a steel factory. We rarely saw each other and the times we saw each other in passing were spent barking out the necessary information the other needed to know. Having less chaotic time together has meant we’re able to connect and enjoy each other more and it’s been great. I must admit his sense of humor and quick wit have always been super attractive to me. ❤️
- Watching our kids adult. I remember the teen years and wondering if these two would ever make it on their own. Well, they are, and quite well I must say. Whether it’s due in part to my struggling attempts at parenting or just a lot of God’s grace, these two are actually doing a really good job at this life stuff.
- Long, hot, relaxing bubble baths. Remember the days where you couldn’t even pee in peace?! Honey, run that bathwater, toss in a bath bomb, and sit in the quiet until you’re completely pruned!
- Enjoying new hobbies or interests. When the kids were young I barely had time for anything but now I’ve found some new passions and interests. Not to mention joint interests with my hubs. (I’m sure you’ll be hearing a lot about the RV adventures we’re planning!)
- Longer, deeper quiet times spent with the Lord. Above all, one thing I’ve been enjoying is the added time I have with the Lord. Whether I choose to watch a sermon online, read my bible, or dive into a devotional, time is spent uninterrupted and focused.
