As the new academic year begins, you may be waving your children off to university, boarding school, or their first jobs abroad.
While the transition is rarely easy, if you’re living abroad, it may mean your children aren’t only moving out of the family home, but to another country.
The quiet emptiness that comes after your child’s departure could cause mixed feelings. For some, the wrench can leave parents struggling to cope with empty nest syndrome – an apt label to describe feelings of sadness, loss, and disorientation that you may experience when your children leave home.
How to recognise signs of empty nest syndrome
While empty nest syndrome can appear in many forms, typically, you may notice:
• A sense of grief or loss – missing the everyday presence of your children and the routines and conversations you had.
• Loneliness – may be heightened if the majority of your family and social life previously revolved around children’s activities.
• A loss of purpose – if caregiving has been central to your identity, it may take time to adjust to the absence and figure out your own fresh chapter.
• Strain on relationships – if your partner doesn’t experience the same feelings, this could lead to tension.
Speaking to the Guardian, one parent described how the departure of her children left her “rattling around the house with an ache I hadn’t anticipated.” Two years on, she’d embraced her freedom, enjoying deeper friendships, and pursuing fresh ambitions.
So, while the initial sadness may feel overwhelming – it won’t last forever.
7 strategies to help you cope, then thrive
1. Acknowledge your feelings
Whatever emotions arise, don’t dismiss or minimise them.
Allow yourself space to grieve. Think of it as a natural step towards finding your way to move forward.
You may find it helpful to process your thoughts through journaling, talking with friends, or sharing experiences with others in the same situation.
Chances are you’re far from alone in feeling the way you do.
2. Reconnect with your partner
As a couple, finding yourselves suddenly “home alone” may present an opportunity to rediscover life together.
Without the busy logistics of parenting, perhaps you now have time to pick up shared hobbies again, go travelling, or simply enjoy mealtimes that aren’t dictated by your child’s schedule.
Whatever you like to do for fun and relaxation, embrace the time you now have to enjoy each other’s company again.
3. Strengthen friendships and community ties
For expats, building and maintaining a support network is especially important.
Whether you join a club, volunteer your time, or simply arrange regular meetups with friends, try and do something outside of your home to create space, perspective, and find a sense of belonging and purpose beyond family life.
4. Set new personal goals
With more time and space, this is your chance to invest in yourself.
For example, you might consider:
• Taking a course, maybe some kind of professional development or a creative pursuit.
• Setting fitness milestones or exploring outdoor activities you could get involved with.
• Revisiting previous hobbies that may have been put on hold during child-rearing years.
Forward-looking goals will give you much-needed structure and motivation.
5. Stay connected with your children, while allowing space
Technology makes it easier than ever to maintain regular contact.
Video calls, shared photo albums, or even family WhatsApp groups all help to keep you feeling more connected. That said, it’s important to give your child space to enjoy their burgeoning independence.
Agreeing how and when you’ll communicate – perhaps with weekly calls – could help you both find the right balance.
6. Seek support if needed
If feelings of loss become overwhelming or persistent, you may want to consider seeking professional support.
Don’t suffer in silence – therapists, counsellors, or wellbeing services could share useful strategies to help you navigate the transition and feel better able to cope, and move on.
7. Update your financial plan
With your children having flown the nest, you may notice you spend less on household utility bills and groceries, resulting in more disposable income.
This may allow you to contribute more to your long-term financial goals – increasing the amount you pay towards your pension, for example. Alternatively, you may decide to save the additional funds to cover travel or make some changes to your home.
Your financial planner can help you identify sensible options for your new disposable income, potentially helping you achieve your goals sooner.
Get in touch
If your children have recently flown the nest and you’d like to use the opportunity to review your financial plan, please get in touch.
Email enquiries@alexanderpeter.com or give us a call on +44 1689 493455.
Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.
All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.
.jpg)
