Empty-Nest Parenting: Adjusting Your Stewardship As Your Children Leave Home

by Linda Eyre, Richard Eyre

Continued parenting after our children leave home.

Genres: Parenting

342 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2002

About the author

As writers, lecturers, and grassroots and media catalysts, Linda and Richard Eyre's mission statement is: FORTIFY FAMILIES by Popularizing Parenting, Validating Values, and Bolstering Balance. Their latest efforts in these directions are their new books, The Happy Family (St. Martins Press,), Empty Nest Parenting (Bookcraft,) and The Book of Nurturing (McGraw Hill,), and their regular appearances on The CBS Early Show.

Linda is a teacher and musician who was named by The National Council of Women as one of America's Six Outstanding Young Women. Largely because of her, the Eyre family was named the Western U. S. "Musical Family of the Year."

Richard and Linda have nine children (one of every kind) and live in Washington, D.C. and Salt Lake City.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would. Just a few observations... There are lots of comments throughout the book from empty-nest parents, and from children who have left home, including some of the authors' children and "in-law" children. Many of these are insightful and helpful, but many of them are so extreme that I found them to be ridiculous, whether from over-involved parents, or totally hands-off parents. Also, some of the comments from the chilren (sometimes even the author's children) were suprisingly resentful. I felt like they used this public opportunity to punish parents for what they felt they had done that wasn't helpful. It just surprised me. Not that some of their resentments weren't justified, but it left me wanting them to go work things out and come back when the issues were resolved so we could get on with the book.

The authors' (mostly Richard Eyre's) approach isn't exactly my style, but the topics and comments gave me some things to think about, and a better awareness of how to prepare for this very important phase of parenthood.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of interesting ideas on how to act and be acted upon; either at an empty nest parent or a left the nest child.

Mostly, this help me understand that we have done a pretty good job with letting go of our kids, while still remaining supportive. They have successfully taken the steps forward onto new lives outside of our home.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have a parent who is too involved in the parenting of grandchildren this is a excelent book. It will help parents draw some good lines between grandparents and parents of children that grandparents are trying to parent.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought and read this book a few years ago to try and understand my parents and my husband's parents a little better. It helped a little, but also confused me too. So, I think overall I would recommend it, but it was not life-altering...

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would recommend this book when your kids are teenagers to prepare your thoughts about how you will parent when they are gone. We are trying to do our best. Each child is different. Each family is different but what does yours need. I love learning from my children.

[Marilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got some great ideas and even changed my behavior towards my adult children. But the book was over the top. I read all the appendices and that was a labor. I can't imagine my children responding to emails about a family constitution. The 50 question section was valuable.

[angelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember this book all you youngin's...great reference for those in my season of life...

[Sheree · Rating 4 out of 5]

some good ideas......