Empty Nest Decisions
The college-bound are packing up and moving out in August. But what about all the stuff they leave behind?
FOX’s Lisa Brady reports:
When the nest begins to empty, it’s a big adjustment for the whole family with a lot of decisions:
(Schweikert) “This is a time of separation where children are moving on to become adults and parents should be able to retain that right to make those decisions.”
Mother of four and Lightbridge Academy President Gigi Schweikert doesn’t think downsizing or turning a bedroom in to a yoga room should depend on how the kids might react.
She didn’t rush it, though:
(Schweikert) “With my first one, I would look into that empty room and think this is the way she smells and this is who she is and this is everything about her and didn’t want to give up any of it.”
But you can’t save it all from the trophies to the posters. So she says talk about it; maybe give each kid a trunk:
(Schweikert) “For the college-bound child to decide what’s important to them and what’s not.”
For larger keepsakes like a dollhouse or rocking horse, space, money and time may be factors.
But Schweikert says memories are more important than things and you can help your kids make new ones in their new spaces.
With FOX on Family, I’m Lisa Brady.
