Empty Nesters - Is Your Nest Ever Empty?

10 years ago

A post in Kitchens asking about designing a kitchen for life as empty nesters got me thinking about this. Many are replying that their kitchen needs are as great as when they were raising a family. This is what I've realized in our case and for many of my friends.

Some were hand wringing when their kids were first off for college about how empty the house would feel. Has not been the case for most.

My 2 kids never moved back home after college/grad school, but we remain the hub for most family events. My kitchen never saw as much activity as in the past few years with in-laws & grandkids. Instead of meals for 4, I'm often cooking for at least 6 most weekends. No emptiness happening here! You?

Featured Answer

suzanne_sl

10 years ago

Not until recently. You always think it will be your kids who move back in, but in our case it was first a son's ex-girlfriend who needed emergency housing, which turned into a 9 month stay (she's darling and a good friend), and later a nephew just out of the army finding his way in the civilian world. That lasted for just 2 or 3 months, but he always came back for advice about how things were going in his life. (Things went well. First he finished his HS education and then college. He now has a very lucrative job and a darling family of his own.) Our youngest moved back in for a while because he was making poverty wages at Barnes and Noble and couldn't afford anything else until he got a "real" job and moved north. In the end, the oldest and youngest both moved to the northern end of the state, which is just too far for an easy drive - 9 hours - which made holidays tough. The middle child moved to the other side of the country early on. We recently made the decision to move north to be closer the two up here and the two darling grandchildren, leaving behind the house we bought 41 years ago before #1 was even born. If we ever manage to get this house functioning, I expect the kids/grandkids to be here often. The other coaster may actually make it out this way. Meanwhile, I'm still doing laundry at my daughter's house across town. She figures that's a good exchange for babysitting. I figure that I really like my new backyard:

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

User
Original Author
10 years ago
Sorry, meant to post this in Conversations..
User
10 years ago
That's ok, we all venture to both sides anyways, right?

We're empty nesters in the true sense and I cook as little as possible now. But I only have one. She's married and they live close by and yes ours is the hub too, but not in the grand sense that I wish it was.

My mother on the other hand is 83 and always seems to have something going on. She and most of my family are in California and her house is definitely the hub. If it's not one of my single sisters hanging out for dinner it's the married ones with the grandkids or all of them as a group. We also have lots of relatives that tend to gravitate to my Mom's when their in town. Mom also entertains more than anyone I know with various groups including the VA and Purple Hatters. (We call her bunny, short for energizer bunny LOL)
Related Professionals
East Patchogue Interior Designers & Decorators · Bridgeport Furniture & Accessories · Cedar Rapids Furniture & Accessories · Milwaukee Furniture & Accessories · Peachtree City Furniture & Accessories · Farmington Furniture & Accessories · Potomac Furniture & Accessories · Clive Furniture & Accessories · Ocean Springs Custom Artists · Camp Springs Lighting · Palm Desert Lighting · Whittier Lighting · Ferndale Window Treatments · Patchogue Window Treatments · Salt Lake City Window Treatments
joaniepoanie
10 years ago
We're almost empty nesters. Two sons live nearby and we see them maybe once or twice a month. Not only are they busy with their own lives, but one travels for work quite a bit and the other is married and, well, they gravitate to her family, which is what usually happens. DD lives in another state and we see her a few times a year. Guess when DH retires and we move away we'll be true empty nesters.
DLM2000-GW
10 years ago
We've been EN's for a while, moved to a new state (not where either of our sons live) and are renting a house while we prepare to build. In one month our oldest will be moving here (with girlfriend) and they'll live with us during our build and be part of the crew - then we build their tiny house. Our youngest can work from anywhere and just decided today he want's to be here for groundbreaking and stay on through at least part of framing so we'll have a VERY full house again in short order. The good news (actually great news) is all 3 of them love cooking and will take over the kitchen as they always do when we're together. I am totally on board!
arcy_gw
10 years ago
I am not sure if we qualify. The youngest went to college last fall--and returns only for "visits", the other two are never coming back TO LIVE..but the girls still have rooms here..older one graduates this spring. It is a change but they still come this way for holidays and weekends when they can... I suppose we won't feel unencumbered until they are married...Son may be getting close to marriage..who knows. After the first few months it really isn't so terrible,being w/o the "kids".
lascatx
10 years ago
I'm on the fence too -- one son in college and the other starting grad school. They have been home holidays and partial summers, but they both have apartments and will probably be here less in summers. I think our kitchen will remain busy, but we will get to do some different things.
elledi61
10 years ago
We were for a while. Our youngest daughter moved back home after living and working in Pittsburgh after college.

She has plans to move into the city, so we will become empty nesters again.