Emptying Nest Parent Group
4-week series: Mar 11, Mar 18, April 1, April 8
(no class Mar 25 for spring break)
Tuesdays from 6:30 - 8pm MT
in Boulder, CO
Register
Sad? Excited? Anxious? Proud?
As you're preparing for your child to leave home, you may be feeling a whole spectrum of emotions (perhaps all on the same day!).
The empty nest period is typically defined as the time after the final child has left home. But each stage as the nest is emptying has its own challenges.
Whether your first child is leaving home or you're a parent of multiple children who is anticipating another departure, you're not alone.
Support and education can help you navigate this emotionally complex transition with greater grace and ease.
It's weird
Talk to any parent whose child has left home or is preparing to leave, and you're likely to hear them describe it as a weird time.
The structure of your family as you've known it for 18+ years will completely change overnight, and it can be hard to adjust.
Research has shown that support groups help parents better navigate the complex emotions of the empty nest transition.
In this group, you'll learn tips to prepare for your child's departure and the shift in your family dynamic and self-identity that follows.
Past group participants said that having guided conversations with other parents in the same life stage helped them feel more balanced and prepared for whatever phase of the emptying nest transition they were facing.
About the group
Each session will incorporate simple movement and mindfulness practices designed to help you connect with your body and better manage complex emotions. I'll offer tips and best practices from the research, and there will be ample time and space for processing and sharing your experience.
Session 1: Your changing relationship with your young adult child
Explore the shifting dynamic between you and your young adult child as they prepare to leave home. Why are they pushing you away in the months before their departure? How should you prepare for the big goodbye? Once they leave, how can you communicate in a way that both shows your love and empowers your child's move towards independence? Explore both the logistics and the deeper feelings behind this evolving relationship.
Session 2: Who am I now? Exploring your evolving self-identity
Anticipating the abrupt shift in day-to-day parenting duties and logistics may have you feeling off kilter. If you'll still have other child(ren) at home it can be strange to be both actively entrenched in daily parenting and also have one or more children away from home. Create space to ponder how your self-identity will be impacted by this transition and what you want to create next in your life on a personal and/or professional level.
Session 3: Friends and partners and exes - oh my!
Whether you're single, partnered, married, or divorced, this transition is bound to impact relationships with the important people in your life. Learn about the common pitfalls that occur in partner relationships after a child leaves home. Explore how to reinvest in friendships that will support this next phase of your life. Create satisfying connections that go beyond child the world of your child.
Session 4: Closure and next steps
Our final session will be a time to address any lingering topics that are present for group members. I'll guide you in intentionally closing the connection of the group in this configuration (though you will be encouraged to stay connected with fellow group members if you so choose). You'll leave with practical tips and techniques you can implement in your daily life to continue to support your unique emptying nest transition process so you can thrive.
Group is limited to a maximum of 10 participants.
Cost: $240
If the cost is prohibitive, please contact me for sliding scale pricing options: kerry@kerrymaiorca.com
