Now, what are you going to do with yourself?
Wallow in the empty nest ‘syndrome’ or see this as an opportunity for YOU?
Did you know that over 500,000 students started an undergraduate degree at UK universities this year? This means, twins allowing, that approximately 500,000 midlife mamas find themselves as partial or full empty nesters, depending if they still have other offspring chicks at home. My eldest opted not to go to uni but left home and bought his first house at 22. His younger brother has, only 3 weeks and 6 days ago, left me with the title of ‘empty nesting, midlife mama’!
What a difficult time many of this cohort of students has had, first with the A level exam chaos and now with increasing threats of university lockdown protocols impeding the stereotypical ‘Freshers Week’ shenanigans.
It’s been a worrying time for parents too. Not only do we have the emotional upheaval and massive readjustment to contend with, we now alsohave the added Corona concerns and the sensibility of their chicks’ (unfamiliar to us) student peers. I, for one, am finding this very challenging. I gave him wings to fly and so let him fly I must.
But the adjustment is huge and I massively underestimated it.
Why?
Let me try to explain.
Being there for hubby or partner. Making sure their homelife supported their stress-fuelled work life. Maybe you even gave up a job or sacrificed a career once family came along. Or maybe you’ve been doing it all?
I know I did for years. Always met everybody else’s needs first. Later as a single mum I worked full time as a teacher which worked around the kids. In fact, my house was always full of other people’s kids in the holidays. I was a great free, childcare alternative for my working friends.
I was the one who went to both sons every cricket match, marking schoolbooks or writing reports being sure not to miss that momentous catch or run! I was the one who got up with the dads in the middle of winter, every Saturday and Sunday and froze my wotsits off watching my boys play rugby!
BUT I know I lost myself along the way.
I lost my confidence. Big time.
Lost a sense of who I am.
I just became George and Chris’ mum and Bill’s ex.
I was also a daughter, sister, cousin, friend …
I recognize now I had neither time nor inclination to invest in myself. I hid in a sea of black. I kidded myself it was slimming. I wanted to be anonymous. Invisible. I maybe went to the hairdressers twice a year at best, resenting the time it took and feeling guilty. I never had time to shop and had nowhere to go anyway. I never went out. I declined girly get togethers. My world was my boys. My boys were my world.
So now it’s MY time.
Have you been waiting for this time too?
Lockdown has given us all time to reflect. Now the kids are using their wings then maybe you have been thinking about doing the same?
I am here to tell you; you can do and be whatever you want to! It’s never too late and you’re never too old!
Ok. Let me tell you more.
I believe that in order to reconnect with ourselves, a good place to start is with our style. This is a great way to project who YOU are. To communicate a little about your personality. And it’s an easy fix. Getting your style right will permeate all areas of your life – dating again, travelling, working, retiring, socializing, reconnecting with your inner essence.
That’s why I’ve used my experience, my personal style and confidence transformation, to create a brand new, group styling programme to help other midlife women like myself to look and feel amazing through discovering the best colours and styles to wear. It will restore lost mojo, help rebuild confidence and be a practical and creative way for you to reconnect with who you are, so you can embrace the opportunity of empty nest with passion and a renewed sense of self.
So, what are you waiting for? That empty nest adventure awaits! Start it here! NOW!
