Focus on the Family with Jim Daly Preparing for the Empty Nest Years
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May 5, 2025 Marci Seither, a creative storyteller and author of 'Empty Nest, Strategies to Help Your Kids Take Flight', shares her experience raising six children and being a grandmother of seven. She discusses the emotional rollercoaster parents face as kids leave home, emphasizing trust in the process. Marci offers tips for enhancing marital relationships during this transition and strategies to support siblings coping with change. Highlighting the importance of personal growth and identity, she encourages parents to embrace the journey of letting go.
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Caterpillar to Butterfly Analogy
- Marci describes children as caterpillars in a chrysalis struggling to develop wings and learn to fly.
- Helping too much would stop their growth, symbolizing trusting God when kids leave the nest.
Be Steward, Not Owner
- Parents should see themselves as stewards, not owners, allowing kids to pursue their own goals.
- Ownership mindset causes helicopter parenting and difficulty letting go at launch time.
Launch Is Grief and Joy
- Launching kids triggers a joyful yet grieving transition for parents.
- Acknowledging this emotional change prepares parents for the empty nest phase.