But You're Relieved The Kids Are Gone

Everyone assumes that Mom, especially if shes been the helicopter-type, will suffer a severe emotional wrench when the nest empties out. After all, her preoccupation for nearly twenty years has been the feeding, nurturing, and caring of the kids. Now that theyre gone, what could possibly fill that void?
\Well, surprise sociologists and psychologists are finding that many women feel a sense of relief and freedom freedom to do all those things theyve always wanted to do and never had the time for. They finally can think of pursuing their passion or enjoying time to themselves to just relax or get fit.

In one study of 160 women whose children were about to go off on their own, or already had done so, a research sociologist at the Institute for the Study of Social Change, University of California at Berkeley, found that some of the women were momentarily sad, lonely, or frightened of an uncertain future without kids, but they were not depressed. All except one responded to the actual or impending departure of their children with a creation amount of relief.

Dad, on the other hand, sociologists are finding, are more likely to feel an enormous sense of loss mixed with guilt. Dads report thinking back over how often they didnt have time for the kids when they were young. And they often lament that they cant bring their kids childhood back.