Ditas Pets-Leif and Sierra
I
was watching the Macy Parade last Thursday on NBC. After the parade I
accidentally did not closed the TV. The next show was the National Dog
Show. For some reason I decided to watch it. It turned out to be an
informative show and it reminded me of an article I wrote just recently.
The Katague family are dog and cat lovers. I remember when the kids
were growing up we have pet dogs and cats. Some of the breeds we have
were a Samoyd( Meling), a Chow Chow ( Miko), a German Shepherd( Devil)
and a few other mixed breeds. For details on the Dog Show this year
read:
Experiencing the Empty Nest Syndrome? Adopt a Pet Dog!!
I
was messaging a friend in FB recently about her feelings of emptiness,
since her last child went to college last month. It reminded me of my
article about the empty nest syndrome(ENS) that I wrote a few years ago.
In this article I wrote about Macrine (RIP) feelings, when our oldest
son left home for college to UC Berkeley. I am posting here excerpts of
that article. In this article there were suggestions in how to cope up
with ENS. Today I think one of the ways to cope with ENS is to adopt a
pet- a dog specifically. Would you agree?
I was exchanging messages with a relative in FB recently. In our
conversation, she mentioned that all her children have left the house
and she misses them. I informed her she is suffering from empty nest syndrome
and it is normal or another stage in one's life as we age. Here's her
exact words. I am not mentioning her name for the sake of anonymity.
"I was in tears reading your blog (Thank You Lord,I have Thoughtful
Relatives). It reminds me of our situation....just me and my husband in a
4,000sq. ft. house and I have to do the cleaning. My health is not
good. I miss my children, how happy and busy was our household before
and now they are busy in their professions and family. My eldest who has
his medical practice in San Antonio, Texas. He calls us every Sunday,
the second one calls when he has a chance. His having two kids is hard
and my daughter calls when she remembers. They are all in medical field
so working night shifts sometimes is hard. I will have them read your
blog. Thanks Nong David".
Here's my response:
I appreciate your feedback, I think your feeling is very normal at this
stage of your life. You are suffering from-empty nest syndrome. Keep
busy and just count your blessings. Are you still working? Keep in
touch! Give my regards to the family!
Empty nest syndrome is a feeling of grief and loneliness parents or
guardians may feel when their children leave home for the first time,
such as to live on their own or to attend a college or university. It is
not a clinical condition.
All parents are susceptible to empty nest syndrome, although some
factors can create a predisposition to it. Such factors include an
unstable or unsatisfactory marriage, a sense of self based primarily on
identity as a parent, or difficulty accepting change in general.
Full-time parents (stay-at-home mothers or fathers) may be especially
vulnerable to empty nest syndrome. Adults who are also dealing with
other stressful life events such as menopause, the death of a spouse, or
retirement are also more likely to experience the syndrome.
Symptoms of empty nest syndrome can include depression, a sense of loss
of purpose, feelings of rejection, or worry, stress, and anxiety over
the child's welfare. Parents who experience empty nest syndrome often
question whether or not they have prepared adequately for their child to
live independently.
Parents going through empty nest syndrome can ease their stress by pursuing their own hobbies and interests
in their increased spare time. Discussing their grief with each other,
friends, families, or professionals may help them. Experts have advised
that overwhelmed parents keep a journal, or go back to work if they were
full-time parents.
Our personal experience with empty nest syndrome started when our oldest
son, went to college. My wife did cry and I told her he will be back at
the end of the week to do his laundry. My wife finally accepted the
fact that her oldest child is growing up and let him go. This feeling of
loneliness was repeated four times, since we have four children. Their
first day away from home always gave us a feeling of sadness. The first
one was the hardest and the last one was the easiest.
Finally if you are in the stage of your life when you children has to go
to college or live by themselves, do not feel sad, It is part of the
stage of life. Keep busy and try to communicate to them as often as you
can. Otherwise get a Pet Dog or Cat!
For complete details read:
https://whyretireinthephilippines.blogspot.com/2015/03/coping-up-with-empty-nest-syndrome-ens.html
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