Posted on March 10th, 2010 by Craig Maltby, Editor
Empty nesting and health…and trade-offs
My kids - Erin and Jill
So my twin daughters are winding up their senior year in high school. We just went to the last vocal jazz performance of their high school career. The same thing will be happening in all the other music ensembles they are in for the next 2 months. The last this, the last that. In a little over 5 months, my wife and I will be empty nesters…literally overnight.
So, from a health standpoint, what are the trade-offs when facing this new living environment? Here are some pros and cons:
Pro – More sleep. My kids are up at 5:00 a.m. during the week to get to early rehersals. So, regardless of whether I need to be at my office or a meeting by 7:30 or 8:00, I’m awake (but not always up) with them at 5. If I can just start getting an extra hour or so of sleep each day, that could change the world!
Pro – No more school cold and flu viruses/bacteria brought into our house. We’ve been pretty good in the past couple of years in not getting hammered by every bug that breaks out in school (thanks EpiCor). Now that we’ll have no “feeder system” coming to and from a crowded school each day, we might be in extra good shape.
Pro – No more weekend trips chaperoning band students on a bus. Mental and physcial health takes an uptick there!
Pro – Travel. Periodic road trips to see the kids at college means fun. Travel can be therapeutic.
Pro – I get my way now. I can watch sports…not American Idol… on the hi-def in the family room and not be banished to the basement with the crappy TV. Sports is good for health!
Pro – The kitchen table can be used for eating, now. Gone are two laptops always running, homework binders, and assorted other school projects living on top of the table, where we squeeze in a plate of food if space can be found. A proper dining environment–devoid of pathogen-laden books, computers and trumpet mouthpieces–may reduce risk of illness.
Con – Two outstanding, loving, accomplished young people who’ve been a huge part of your daily life for 18 years are suddenly home no more. Stress from separation anxiety is a new companion. Gotta work through that.
So, which scores the highest? Multiple pros, or one giant con?
