What Empty Nest Syndrome Really IS

It is the opposite of Family.

I can speak to this because this is my second time going through it. My wife was in tears last Saturday seeing our daughter in College far away from home. She hadn't seen her in person for about 3 months and found herself crying a lot. My daughter was more concerned about us and didn't want to talk about her new life. I told her in a text she was doing well individuating and she told me that wasn't a real word. I told her she should read Carl Jung and Shopenhauer and others who studied individuation from teenage years to adulthood in people over the years. She couldn't be bothered. To her, I have to be wrong because I'm her Dad. How could I be right?

It wasn't safe for her to rebel against her mother until now so I had to deal with this coming since she was 18. She knew I was as tough as she is. So, my daughter has shown no mercy on me since she was 13. So, since I already went through this in 1990 with my son and two step kids I sort of have a clue how empty nest syndrome doesn't get better it only gets worse.

What is the cure?

This is an important question.

I stayed close with my son from my first marriage and my then baby daughter who is now 25 however. And I remarried within a year or so and had another daughter who is now in college.

So, suffice it to say that Empty Nest Syndrome breaks up many marriages that haven't already broken up for other reasons already.

And the people most harmed by Empty nest syndrome tend to be Single parents without partners. These people can really be harmed by this the most.

What is the cure?

You have to start a new life because your old life won't work anymore.

I once studied in a Sociology class called "Marriage and the Family" that every family completely changes when anyone comes into or leaves that family.

This means every dynamic changes when anyone comes into or out of your home.

NOTHING IS THE SAME AT ALL.

Accepting this, one can move  into a new life.

Not accepting this can result in insanity or worse it can result in people dying soon.

So, Empty nest syndrome is real and has to be dealt with and if you don't deal with it by creating a new life you can stand to live, then you won't be alive or sane anymore. Very simple.