Empty Nest

It is very difficult to let go of your children, when it possibly leaves you with an empty nest. Even if the occasion is a happy one, sending your children to college can leave you with mixed feelings of joy and grief.

It’s the day you’ve been working hard for all these years - the day when your son
or daughter flies free from the nest. They might be going to work, going to college, or getting married, but whatever it is, it happened way too soon. There is joy, but there is also a great deal of sadness as they depart to start their own lives. The empty nest can be a mixed blessing.

We can be happy for our children and sad for ourselves. Depression and empty nest can go hand-in-hand. Reaching out to others is one way to keep us from spiraling into feelings of depression instead of celebrating the joy of life.

Sharing Your Feelings

What can you do to be supportive for a friend or relative experiencing an empty nest? To highlight the positive aspects of a job well done, send them a comfort box to acknowledge their sacrifices and your good wishes. Comfort baskets are one way to show someone that you’ve noticed a life-changing event and that you are thinking about them.

In a world that is rushed from one minute to the next, the fact that you took the time to send a comfort basket will help to bring more joy and less sadness. It can also help relieve your own pain, as you find connection with others experiencing similar life-changing events.

Send Comfort Boxes to Your Children

For your own children, along with the thrill of being on their own for the first time, they might also be experiencing feelings of separation and loss. Young adults who go off to college will appreciate a personalized gift basket to help alleviate feelings of homesickness. Imagine their surprise when they get one the first week they're gone. Include some food goodies, and you will be the talk of the dorm!

Life is about movement and change. Along with that movement can come feelings or depression mixed with moments of joy. Sharing the ups and downs of life with loved ones is a way to bring more connection and love into our relationships.