"LIFE AS AN EMPTY NESTER..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

Guest-blogger Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst N.Y. and has worked in
the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years. Today Judy talks
about the pro's and Con's of the empty nest...Enjoy!

LIFE AS AN EMPTY NESTER

Back in the 1980’s my husband and I were blessed with the most joy anyone could experience, the birth
our two sons.  Having children brings on a wonderful new perspective of life; to view the world once
again through a young  persons’ eyes is the most spectacular wonderment anyone can experience.

Any time I reflect on the many years of enjoyment raising our sons it brings a smile to my face. Never did
we miss a baseball game, cub  scout  meeting, school pageant, choir production….and the list goes on
and on.  Lately I find myself reflecting on old photo albums of the many  many  vacations and road trips
we all took together from one end of the country to another always stopping in places for all of us to
enjoy.

When we moved into our home there was never a quiet moment; someone was always bringing a friend
in or practicing musical instruments etc and our home was filled with laughter and sometimes chaos
that was just part of living.

During the past few years both our boys have left home to start their own lives; one brings him very far
away from home and is able to physically visit although we talk often,  only a couple of times a year. 
The other son fortunately is closer to home and we can be part of his life on a regular basis. 

When our children were in the process of being raised, at times, we felt  it would  never end.  The
endless sporting practices that we had to  chauffeur them to, the endless nights we waited  up to listen
for the door to shut,  knowing they were safe and home for the night.  All these years can add up to
many long and sleepless nights – sometimes I miss those noisy, crazy days.  Now  at night can hear such
an eerie  quietness in the house resonating from room to empty room.

All we ever want for our children are for them to independently happy and self sufficient; and when it
finally comes to  pass, we feel the empty nest syndrome at times.  I now can be as selfish as I want on
some days not having to put the  children’s  needs   first.  No more bickering or fighting about who did
what…just total silence.

There is something to be said for the joy the little patter of feet can bring and there is something to be
said for peacefulness and quiet surrounding us.  I guess I will adjust to this empty nest we are left with;
maybe it is time to downsize our nest into a smaller abode.  Better start to downsize my “ valuable
“clutter” first though.  It’s going to take some time for that adjustment in this next chapter of my life.

And maybe someday I will once again hear the little patter of feet in my home, god willing.

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook....