Your offspring moving out permanently can be a bittersweet moment. On one hand, you worry about your precious babies wandering out into the unknown. On the other hand, you have newfound freedom to explore. Take a look at a few of the options below.
- Plant a Garden
What better way is there to replace one growing creature with another? The need to nurture doesn’t instantly disappear, so you can take on a lowkey project such as planting a garden. If you need to cut down a tree, you may want to consult a stump removal Orlando FL service to smooth the land over for you. It is difficult to mow and trim when there is an obstacle in the way.
Look up your climate and geographical characteristics to see which plants are destined to grow the best. For example, you can grow artichokes, beets, kale and lettuce in cold weather. On the other hand, sweet potatoes, melons, okra and eggplants thrive wherever it is warm.
- Re-Purpose the Bedrooms
Have you always wanted an office at home, but you couldn’t because the children required their own place? How about an art studio or a home gym? If so, you can move the old furniture and other belongings from your sons and daughters into the basement, attic or a storage unit. Once you have done this, take measurements of the area to see what you have to work with. From there, you can renovate the territory together.
- Host a Book Club
Now that you have more space to work with, you can feel free to invite more people over. There is less likely to be a mess because the kids are gone, so it will be easier to clean. Here are some popular books that are often discussed at these types of events:
- “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens
- “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett
- “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn
- “The Boys in the Boat” by Daniel James Brown
- “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
- “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein
Make sure you provide snacks and drinks to tide people over during discussions. Set a reading schedule before you meet with everyone.
While your children will always need you, it’s ok to look after yourselves as well. The empty-nester years can be some of the most productive and fulfilling.