Are you an empty nester? Enjoy these 7 great books for empty nesters!
To prepare for this stage of life, I read a few books to get my head into this new game, so enjoy these great books for empty nesters!
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7 Great Books for Empty Nesters
Are you an empty nester? Enjoy these 7 great books for empty nesters!
It’s weird to think about myself as an empty nester, but I actually was as of August when our youngest started college.
These days seemed so far away -even last year because our son’s senior year was so jam packed with activities. But, here we are, and I am glad I had already been thinking about some of these things ahead of time. It’s a big adjustment, but with some planning and forethought, it’s actually been a smooth transistion.
For this reason, I will say to anyone struggling, it’s going to be okay. If you hadn’t prepared or you are surprised by aspects of this new stage in your life, embrace it.
Do some research. Try new things. Stretch your own wings.
These are great books about different ways to deal with the grief and adjustment you might find in the empty nest: menopause, relationships with your adult children and even your aging parents, and other topics pertaining to midlife.
Enjoy!
#1 Great Books for Empty Nesters: Empty Nest, Full Life by Jill Savage
Empty Nest, Full Life This book is real. Raw. And very relatable. Anyone else struggling not to control their adult children? Anyone else thinking that their children’s behavior/choices/lives reflect on how well we parented them in their childhood? Jill lays it all out -her mistakes and triumphs.
#2 Great Books for Empty Nesters: Chicken Soup For The Soul: Empty Nesters
Chicken Soup For The Soul: Empty Nesters I’m a sucker for all the Chicken Soup books! This one has 101 stories from parents who have been through this transitition. Full of truth about the good, the bad, and the new! The best thing we are finding in our new empty nest is that we have so much time! It’s been fun to figure out how to fill it both together and on our own. Read this one for stories and ideas for what is next…
#3 Great Books for Empty Nesters: Empty Nest Awakening by Ruthie Gray
Empty Nest Awakening Ruthie writes this for midlife woman who is looking to start something new. She writes from a place of experience in many things that not only has she tried, but succeeded in. As someone who has in the past 10ish years of trying new things: 2 blogs, YouTube channel, creating social media on many platforms and even now a podcast, I get what she is saying.
If business is not the direction for you, then what she has to say is still good information about being brave, trying new things, getting help, and prioritizing.
(Note: I was priviledged to have an advance copy of Ruthie’s book so that I could review it for her. -It is now available on Amazon.)
#4 Great Books for Empty Nesters: Finding Joy in the Empty Nest by Jim Burns
Finding Joy In The Empty Nest Burns is a family educator who uses his own experience and interviews with others to encourage us. I felt like his main message with that we have no idea how great this next chapter will be!
#5 Great Books for Empty Nesters: All My Friends Have Issues by Amanda Anderson
All My Friends Have Issues This book is for anyone in midlife who is struggling with friendships. We are not alone. Our lives are shifting. Seasons end, kids graduate, people move or divorce or just drift away. Friendship is worth the effort. Our friend, Amanda gives great advice about types of friendships and why we need them!
#6 Great Books for Empty Nesters: You’re Fired, Now What? How to Elevate Your Empty Nest by Alana Altitude
You’re Fired, Now What? How To Elevate Your Empty Nest
Once again, a different way to frame the “after years”. It’s up to us to decide how this next chapter will look. This short ebook has all sorts of new ways to look at this new time in our lives. She refers to us “getting fired” by our kids and needing to find new jobs. I agree that we always need to look for fulfulling ways to spend our time. Don’t worry though, adult kids will always need your help, from advice to grandma-sitting the grandkids!
Let’s all embrace this time of our life and make the most of it by trying new things, having a positive attitude, and showing our grown kids that we are truly okay!
(Note: This one is not available on Amazon.)
#7 Great Books for Empty Nesters: From Mom to Me Again: How I Survived My First Empty-Nest Year… by Melissa Shultz
How I Survived My First Empty-Nest Year… This was a fun read since I am in my first few months of being an empty nester. I think that I had a head start from writing on this website and thinking ahead about different issues that I might need or want to be thinking about ahead of time.
If you are struggling in your new empty nest, this would be the perfect book for you. I think my favorite part of this for a newbie is how to deal with the emotional ups and downs during this time. Some of the feelings I have expected, but other emotions have come as a surprise, so this book has been a great resource!
The empty nest is a great place to be. It can be a time of adjustment and sadness for sure. But, take the time to set new goals, find new friends, reconnect with others, and figure out what it is that you want from the rest of your life!
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