Empty Nest: Strategies to Help Your Kids Take Flight

by Marci Seither

"All of a sudden, the nest is empty. The birds have gone, and what had been a constant blur of activity is now nothing more than a few discarded feathers. Silence mutes all that was colorful and it is time to reestablish our significant place in an ever-changing world." Getting ready to launch your kids to the next stage of life? Like it or not, this transition is inevitable a natural changing of seasons. With wit and insight, author Marci Seither will give you a spiritual perspective and the practical tips you need to thrive in the midst of change.

Through the practical insights found in Empty Nest parents will learn how to help younger children cope as they miss their older siblings and discover how to help their children succeed as they transition to their next phase of life. Whether their child is leaving for college, the military, or returning to live at home, Empty Nest will help them approach this season of life with confidence.

192 pages, Paperback

First published February 26, 2014

Reviews

[Melissa Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter is still in elementary school. However, I already feel her moving away from me as she explores more and more without me at her side. It is wonderful to see children blossom but a little scary to think of them leaving. Seither's book does a great job of helping parents lay the groundwork for when their children will inevitably leave so the transition is not so rough. She adds stories from parents and launched children to provide more perspective. Inspirational quotes and thought questions will help any parent move into uncharted territory. The book is very easy to read and is not cumbersome, so definitely will help ease the transition!

[Yvonne Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trying to prepare myself for my next season. Still not quite an empty nester, but I know it is coming! This book has some great ideas and suggestions, especially for a mom who has been home with her children.

[Carole Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether a parent or grandparent, this is a must read to assist with launching that child successfully!

[Martha Groeber · Rating 4 out of 5]

As my children went through high school several years ago, I found myself dreading the time when they would be leaving home. For our children, high school life was a whirlwind of band activities and schoolwork. I spent hours in the car, driving them to their many activities, sometimes with a tuba, a bari sax, or a bass guitar (with amplifiers) stowed in the back. Good thing I have my Highlander! Then our sons graduated within a year of each other. The activity level dropped dramatically. I began to feel a little purposeless (and it didn't help that my youngest told me that I was entering the "last chapter" of my life).

I wish I had had Marci Seither's book about five years ago! She gives wonderful strategies on preparing yourself and your child for the eventual nest-leaving. With lots of humor and anecdotes from her life, Marci shares about how to make this time a celebration. She covers all of the various aspects of this time of life: children leaving for college or the military, dealing with the "left behind" siblings, handling this time both as a single parent and as a couple, and the possibility of the child needing to return home for a season. She also talks about the grief process we go through (after all, life as we knew it will never be the same again) and the fears we have for our children.

The part I found most meaningful was when she discussed transferring our children from our responsibility to that of God. Not only do I have to trust in God to take care of my children, but they need to start leaning on God's leadership more than on that of their parents. They can only do that when we step back (so hard to do!) and let them spread their wings and fly from the nest.

[Marci Seither · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book I wish I could have read when my FIRST ones started leaving the nest!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book, although the Empty Nest name is off base. A good amount of the information is better for gearing up for your kids to leave home, not once the nest is empty.