The high school graduation ceremony signaled the beginning of the graduation party circuit. Parents gather under the cozy rented backyard tents while sitting on tiny fold-up chairs, their plates layered with pulled pork sandwiches, hamburgers, hotdogs, salads, chips, Chinese food, cake, cookies and bars. It is the celebration of one milestone reached and the anticipation of the future that lies ahead.
This is a time to discuss the future plans of our respective “superstars,” the skyrocketing cost of a college education and the occasional “Where has the time gone?” I noticed that the one subject that seemed to be a main topic of conversation was “What are we going to do now?”
For some, becoming an empty nester can somewhat feel like being fired from a challenging but wonderful job that you have held for the past 18 years. Sure, we will always be their parents as long as we resemble human ATM machines, but I mean the day-to-day responsibilities and mischief that come along with actually living in the same house with our high school student has suddenly come to an abrupt end.
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What will you miss the most? My list is long but includes hearing the carefree, raucous laughter drifting upstairs from young people enjoying life as they know it. We as parents will now have to find ways to navigate threw this transition period and find new and rewarding ways to fill this space. So, what fun is in store for you if your kids have left the nest?
