Compare lists, and then come up with a shared couples bucket list. Dream big! It can be as outlandish as you want, though adding more simple or straight-forward goals like “redecorate youngest kid’s bedroom,” “start a garden,” or “lounge at the pool for an entire day reading” are certainly encouraged too. Once the list is made, don’t leave the notepad to collect dust in the junk drawer; hang it on the fridge and start making plans for how you’re going to cross things off! Congratulations, you’ve made it through the chaos of the baby phase, the elementary school stage, the middle school years (oof, those were some rough times), and the high school saga! Now your youngest baby has flown the coop. Don’t worry, you’ll still have plenty to worry about and drama to hear, but now you’ve got to trust that you’ve raised your child to be the best person they can be, and then you need to focus on soaking in the gift of empty nesting. Remember: An empty nest does not mean an empty life. Can’t wait to see all the new home improvements, hobbies, and fabulous travel destinations in your future on Facebook!
friends once upon a time… but between work, moves, and life, you grew apart. No matter your “relationship status” with your friends, it’s never too late to be intentional. Plan a weekend college reunion, go see a high school friend, or get together for lunch with those basketball mamas (or dads). You’re allowed to stay friends even though your kids aren’t in town anymore… it might even be helpful, because they understand exactly what you’re feeling! This is also your chance to make new friends. Be brave. Invite your neighbors over, join a bible study at church, make conversation with people you see in your workout class or art studio. You never know who might be good potential friend material. Will it sometimes be awkward or uncomfortable? Certainly. But remember, if your baby can be brave enough to move out and meet new people in college, you can do it too! CREATE A BUCKET LIST Whether it’s a fitness goal like running a half-marathon or a delicious dream like baking your first three-layer cake, create a bucket list for yourself. Setting both long- and short-term goals is not only a “fun idea,” it’s essential. Spend time writing down things you aspire to accomplish, places you hope to go, and things you want to do, then swap with your spouse.
physical, emotional, and mental health? Amid the hustle and bustle of kids, you always come in last… but now that you’ve sent off the last one, you finally have time for you. And I’m not talking about “you and your spouse” time… though there’s a time for that too. You need to make sure each of you has your own alone time, your own “stuff,” because in many cases this is the most time you’ve ever been together, and that can be tough. Purposefully carving out time to be apart will make the time you spend together even better. But “me time” won’t come naturally—remember, you’ve been trained to not think about you, even when there’s throw-up on your shirt or you’re running on four hours of sleep because someone decided to stay out past curfew. There are a few different ways you can reconnect
with and invest in yourself. • Try a new type of exercise • Unplug from your phone • Read a book (or an audiobook) • Start a journal
BE INTENTIONAL WITH FRIENDS As a parent of kids with busy schedules that often overflowed with social events and extracurriculars, maybe most of your friends are the parents of your kids’ friends. Or, perhaps you had close
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