Today I will speak of a subject that I know very well….The dreaded empty nest.  As we are raising our children we dream of the day that they will be grown, happy, and on their own. After all, if they are, we have done our job right? Then the time actually comes and you find yourself aimlessly walking around a big house, quiet, lonely and with no one to pick up after. You and your spouse, who by the way feels the same way, look at each other from across the couch with the “What do we do now?” looks on your faces. Well, the way I see it, we have two choices. We can play the echo game down the empty halls and vacant bedrooms  (hello, hello, hellooooo) or we can get out there and enjoy what life has to offer!! After all…. we have a whole lot of years left, it’s time to reconnect with your best friend and go have some fun! Here are a few ways to get that party started!

Create a Dream Board

The first thing that you and your spouse should do is create a dream board! Pull out books and magazines, maps and and old photos of the things that you did before the children… Now is the time for you guys to daydream…. No, the years of raising kids did not suck the life out of you! Put your imagination caps back on and light that fire under each other , this is an exciting time!

Reacquaint With Your Spouse 

Let’s face it, raising children not only ages us, but it changes our perspective on life. Many times we find with the sleepless nights, working hard to try and feed and clothe them and scurrying to keep up with their busy schedules that we haven’t had time to really share our new found thoughts and desires with our spouses. Remember a long time ago, it was just the two of you… best friends, in it to win it, ride or die kind of love…. Now it’s time for the two of you to jump back on that bike called life, feel the wind in your hair and pull the bugs out of your teeth together!

Get MOVING

Ok…. now we have some free time to fill… Get of the couch!! Do you guys love Country music? How about line-dancing classes? You’d rather be outdoors you say? Then I say it’s time to buy that travel trailer you’ve always talked about. That is exactly what my husband and I did and we couldn’t love it more! The awkward silence while sitting on the couch watching T.V is not the same as the silence cuddled under the stars and around the campfire together!

Play

Play, play, play. Play music, play board games, play cards, play golf, play tennis, play hide and seek for gosh sakes…. who cares…. just remember what it’s like to feel young and laugh!

Get Healthy

Have a goal, whether you need to lose a few or just need to start exercising… Do it together. After all, you two have a lot of years to spend together and those grand kids will start coming soon! You’re going to need to stay active to keep up and watch them grow! Plus, when you feel better, you do better!!

Now, if you really take our fist 5  suggestions and you find yourself suddenly having a good time, laughing and carrying on in that big old house and just decide it’s too much up keep for your new fancy free lifestyle…. You need to contact us! We will get that house sold in no time and find you a more manageable home for you to enjoy for the years to come!!

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Photo Credit: Shutterstock/Monkey Business Images