Can Empty Nest Syndrome Lead to Divorce?

 Posted on March 23, 2019 in Children

Parents commonly experience empty nest syndrome after their children have moved out of the home. They can feel lonely and lacking a purpose or identity. Ideally, their marriage will fill the parenting void, but empty nest syndrome can put pressure on a weak marriage. If your marriage is falling apart without your children, you may need to consider divorce. Starting anew can help you discover the purpose and fulfillment you have been looking for.

Reasons for Divorce

Parenting can hold together a marriage that may have crumbled otherwise. Between your parental responsibilities and your career, you may give little thought to your relationship with your spouse as long as you feel fulfilled in these other areas. The bond you share as parents will never completely disappear, but that by itself does not make you compatible partners. With the children out of the house, your spouse may be the only person that you regularly interact with. When this happens, you may realize that you and your spouse:

• Share little in the way of common interests;
• Have different ideas about how active you want to be in your post-parenting lives;
• Disagree on how active you should remain in your children’s lives; or
• Feel generally uncomfortable or unhappy with each other.

Some spouses stay together despite these differences, remaining married but living separate lives. For others, divorce is the best way to free themselves to pursue the lives they want.

Filling Your Nest

Divorcing may initially have the same emotional effect on you as when your children left your home. You are once again losing part of your identity and left feeling lonely. There are several ways that you can combat your depression and despondency, such as:

• Finding a group or activity that you enjoy;
• Spending more time with friends and family;
• Traveling to places you have long wanted to visit;
• Starting new projects around your home; and
• Maintaining regular contact with your children.

Whatever you choose to do, it should be something that makes you happy or fulfilled. You may need to break out of your normal pattern of behavior to discover what that thing is.

Contact a Kane County Divorce Attorney

Divorcing after your children have left home means you can focus on your financial needs without worrying about the allocation of parental responsibilities and child support. However, the process is still complicated, both fiscally and emotionally. A St. Charles, Illinois, divorce attorney at Goostree Law Group can explain the key issues in your divorce. Working with our staff divorce coach can help you mentally prepare for the process. Schedule a free consultation by calling 630-584-4800.

Source:

https://www.liveabout.com/empty-nest-syndrome-in-your-marriage-2300814