empty-nester
Kids moved out
An empty-nester is a parent whose children have grown up and moved out of the family home.
The term captures both the literal emptiness of a house once full of kids and the emotional adjustment that follows: Now that we're empty-nesters, we're thinking of downsizing.
Sometimes hyphenated, sometimes not.
Reducing workforce or scale
- retirementLeaving the workforce permanently
- life-stagePeriod of development
- relocationPermanent change of residence
- redefinitionAltering established meaning
Freedom from external control
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- liberationRelease from constraint
- self-sufficiencyIndependence from outside aid
- spontaneityActing without forethought
flexibility · travel · adventure · exploration · reinvention · self-discovery · hobbies · leisure
State of lacking companions
- silenceTotal lack of sound
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- adjustmentAlteration to improve fit
- nostalgiaLonging for the past
reminiscing · melancholy · purposelessness · tearful · bittersweet · echoes · hollow
downsizing
Reducing workforce or scale
- retirementLeaving the workforce permanently
- life-stagePeriod of development
- relocationPermanent change of residence
independence
Freedom from external control
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- liberationRelease from constraint
- self-sufficiencyIndependence from outside aid
spontaneity · flexibility · travel · adventure · exploration · reinvention · self-discovery · hobbies · leisure · relaxation
loneliness
State of lacking companions
- silenceTotal lack of sound
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- adjustmentAlteration to improve fit
nostalgia · reminiscing · melancholy · purposelessness · tearful · bittersweet · echoes · hollow
grandchildren
Offspring of offspring
graduation · weddings · legacy · mentoring · support · guidance · in-laws · friendships · community
empty-nesternew parent
Someone with a newborn
stay-at-home parent · helicopter parent · soccer mom · soccer dad
empty, nest, nester, emptier, emptiest, emptied, emptying, emptiness, nests