<p>After 25 years as a mostly stay at home mom,the youngest of 4 is leaving. It is sort of sad for me : I really enjoyed all the activity.Have started some volunteer work since April,will expand this .By day I am a substitute teacher 3-4 days a week.I really liked all the mom activities .Yes, I am married ,and my husband is a great guy, but I like and miss the mom part.How are others dealing with this major life change ?</p>
<p>The very best thing DH and I did was drop of D3 at school and then go on an extended work trip; instead of coming home to a house without her and routines with the hole where she should have been, we were able to form some new routines for a couple of weeks away from anything familiar. Then upon our return home it was easier to create new routines with just us.</p>
<p>Cultivating friends. I’m becoming more involved with others who are in a similar life stage, but not as as my kid’s mom, but rather as friends. I’ve made a point of getting to know a couple of neighbors whom I didn’t know before, and I’m making more of an effort to entertain couples that we have known, but maybe didn’t see much because their kids were in a different school or class.
I walk a every day with my dog, but I’ve included other women a few times a week who also have dogs- and kids who are gone. It’s taken awhile to establish some of these relationships, but my last one graduated last May, so I’m really glad now that he’s truly leaving (going north for a job) that I have these people in my life.</p>
<p>fauxmaven - We won’t be empty nesters since we’ll still have an older D home when S goes off to college, but I’m imagining that things will be different around here. We don’t have many kids around the neighborhood, but I was thinking perhaps I could spend some time with my little Sunday School friends. Young parents often enjoy a little break, especially if the grandparents live far away.</p>
<p>I’m going to take a class at the local community college. Something from American History. We’ll see how that works!</p>
<p>Just as my kids were becoming more independent in HS, I got hired for a dream job, which I held for four years and then was surprised when it ended. I did some soul-searching and rose to S’s expectations by re-inventing myself and starting a non-profit. It has been a fascinating and challenging journey but my kids are very interested in it and actually help along the way. S created our webpage & D helped edit it. They are proud that H & I are moving on with our lives as the kids are moving on with theirs. In fact, we’ve been so busy we really didn’t miss D as much as we thought we might when she flew 2500 miles to join her brother in LA.</p>
<p>I guess what I’m saying is – reinvent yourself and find yourself a passion. I’m guessing you’re good with kids of some age or other and have been active as a volunteer while they were growing up. Are there any particular groups/interests you have found especially rewarding that you never had as much time to pursue as you might have liked? That might be a fun place to start. You’ll be thrilled at the great folks you meet along the way.</p>
<p>The hardest part is that I didn’t really work much when kids were young, and now I would love to get a public school pre- K job.I have a Masters in Early Childhood ,am certified as an Art Teacher,and recently completed certification for a P-3,which you need to teach in a public pre-school,but get paid as a regular teacher .I am 56,and although I often get called as a substitute teacher, I think districts rarely,if ever, hire someone my age.I have never had a call for an interview !Because my kids attended private schools, none of the moms I liked live nearby.I am not complaining, that’s is just the way it turned out.I love substitute teaching ,because I get to be around kids .So many young teachers are out of work now ,I guess I am grateful for the subbing.I know I do a good job because several schools call me regularly .I know I need some girlfriends ! My husband and I go out 2-3 times a month with other couples,but they all work full time, as do most women my age .It also seems that most women have their friends by this point in their lives .At least we won’t come back for 4 days,but plan some sightseeing.</p>
<p>This cuts very close as we will be empty nesters for the first time. We have three kids who will be a fresh, a soph, and a junior in college. Wife and I are both teachers and have been crazy busy with school events as all three kids were incredibly active (all-state athletes, class and school president, yearbook, ect.) for the past 8 years. Within a couple weeks, we will be all alone. I really thought I would enjoy not having to run from place a-b-c and then home. I am really starting to think I was wrong and am already missing the thought of sports events with my kids playing and the continual running around. It seems just yesterday they were in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades. Man did that go fast!</p>
<p>Boy, it is so quiet without kids.This will sound odd ,and at the time I would never believe it,but I miss the petty fighting ,kids yelling ,doors slamming! It’s so silent now ,especially when my husband is at work and I am home .I like to have the radio on for some backround noise .When the kids were all away at sleep-away camp, it was quiet but I knew they would be back,so it was fine. Ironically, I had 3 kids home for the weekend (2 back from international travel,1 works nearby ) and instead of pure enjoyment, I kept thinking it was temporary,and didn’t allow the time to be fully savored.)You say you teach-have you ever known an elementary hire my age?I am 56.I don’t want HS or Special Ed.where there is more of a chance.I have 4 kids-18,20 23 and 30(another marriage).</p>
<p>Check out the empty nest thread at the top of Parents’ Cafe.</p>
<p>“You say you teach-have you ever known an elementary hire my age?”</p>
<p>My friend was in her 50s when she got a job teaching kindergarten.</p>
<p>I was home with my children when they were little and went back to work in a school when they were teenagers. I loved having the summer off with them and breaks as well. When they were younger we used to go to museums, the beach and spend great quality time together. I adjusted to not doing these things with them, but would still catch up at the dinner table and on weekends. Both boys were active in varsity sports, and as a result, we were busy going to their games, team dinners, etc. Even though I will see my freshman once every six weeks or so, I am so sad that this part of my life is over. I feel as if I’m getting fired from the best job I ever had. So many parents are looking forward to an empty next, but I’m very nervous about the future. I have a few friends in the same boat, so at least I know I’m not alone. My husband works many hours and likes his quiet time on the weekends. I think it will be a very interesting - and different year.</p>
<p>I feel your pain. I will have an empty nest in two weeks as well. I am also an elementary art teacher. Have you thought about volunteering in an elementary school? I am very fortunate to have several adults who volunteer in the art room for me. They come because they love art and love kids and want to contribute their time to my program. With over 600 students there is never enough time in the day for me to get everything done that I need to. I depend on them! </p>
<p>Not only would this give you something to do with your time in an environment that you like but it will make administrators aware of you and your skills. I don’t think that your age is an obstacle to being hired. School systems sometimes avoid older hires simply because they usually come with many years experience and will start out on the high end of the pay scale. It is cheaper to hire less experienced teachers. if you only have a minimum of years teaching, you are an attractive candidate, still. Volunteering in a classroom is a great way to meet your needs and those of a school population. Good luck. I’ll be thinking of you when my youngest leaves :(</p>
<p>My aunt got her teaching degree in her 40s and I think her first teaching job at age 50.</p>
<p>I’m talking from the other side of the empty nest situation. We enjoyed the heck out of parenting and hanging out with our kids. Oldest now lives in a foreign country, 20 hours flight away, youngest is a rising senior in college. It was hard when the oldest went off, and even harder when the youngest did, but… it’s a transition, and it becomes easier with time, and you grow and change and develop new activities and interests and find you have more time for friends, and casual “let’s go out to eat” without worrying about making dinner for anyone, and you can go visit friends in other cities on a whim, and workout after work without picking up kids from school, and… all of a sudden you realize that you have forged a new and WONDERFUL life as an empty nester!!! 
So, give yourself time to grieve and adjust to this life change, and then relax into it. I bet you will still feel connected with your kids (we do - thanks Skype and facebook), and eventually will enjoy the heck out of your life as empty nesters. HTHs! ;)</p>