Resting and reflecting on accomplishments as a parent, sharing experiences with others, reinventing romantic relationships, developing a hobby, planning the next step and reading all help with discovering what the world has to offer outside the nest--there is even a book called "Chicken Soup for the
Empty Nesters: 101 Stories about Surviving and Thriving When the Kids Leave Home." This acceptance stage also requires recognizing that there were downsides to child rearing years and those who have interests of their own find themselves less vicariously dependent upon their children's happiness.
"As they enter this new stage of life,
Empty Nesters are excited about products and ideas to help them cook for two," says General Mills home economist Lynn Vettel.
We measured
empty nesters' depression using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS; Brink et al., 1982), which was developed and standardized for use with older adults (Su et al., 2016).
"I suggest
empty nesters take their time and look carefully," Rhoades said.
"The rise in self-rewarding behavior among
empty nesters demonstrated by their increase in spending on food, drinks and personal care is at the center of what makes them a very attractive market to consumer packaged goods manufacturers and retailers," says Andrew Russell, consumer markets analyst at Datamonitor and author of the report.
Since my wife and I are now official "
empty nesters," I have fewer opportunities to give such advice to members of the immediate family.
Even in nations with negative population growth, the number of households increased as
empty nesters and divorce rates rose.
The American Furniture Manufacturers Association (AFMA) surveyed parents whose children have moved out and learned that nearly half of America's
empty nesters will reinvest in their nest by renovating their current home, purchasing a new one, or even by splurging on a vacation home.
ML: My sons are grown and we are
empty nesters, but my wife was not eager to move.
As an increasing number of young professionals and
empty nesters look to eliminate commutes and pursue an urban lifestyle, demand for housing continues to outstrip supply in many U.S.
The biggest impact on food and eating in the millennium will be that the baby-boom generation is becoming
empty nesters. That will have a profound effect on how this country feeds itself.
These 49-year-old
empty nesters include Jeannie, a registered nurse; and Charlie, a freelance artist and part-time babysitter for his two grandchildren.