Kellie Irene Flynn is a dental hygienist at a dental practice in Las
Vegas, Nevada, where she has worked for nearly ten years. She is married
and the mother of three children, two of whom have already left home.
Her third child, a daughter named Pamela, is a high school senior who has been accepted into the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and will begin classes there in the fall. Kellie Irene Flynn. She says that with her last child moving out, even if it isn’t expected to be permanent, has left her with mixed emotions.
What she is feeling is generally referred to as the empty nest syndrome, although that is not a clinical term. It is a phenomenon in which parents have feelings of sadness and loss when the last of their children move out. It is, of course, natural to encourage a child’s independence, and to expect them to want to get out into the world, but the transition can be difficult, especially for people who only have one child or strongly identify with their role as a parent.
For those who, like Kellie Irene Flynn, are experiencing feelings of loss because the last of their children have left home, the best response may be to take action. Focus on what you can do to help your child succeed in the world, and make an effort to keep in touch by telephone, text messages and email, and video chatting. If they live close enough, try to plan regular visits. Researchers say parents should remember that while one chapter of life has ended, a new one has begun. Try to look at it as an opportunity to revive interests they haven’t had time for, and to improve the quality of their marriage.
Her third child, a daughter named Pamela, is a high school senior who has been accepted into the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and will begin classes there in the fall. Kellie Irene Flynn. She says that with her last child moving out, even if it isn’t expected to be permanent, has left her with mixed emotions.
What she is feeling is generally referred to as the empty nest syndrome, although that is not a clinical term. It is a phenomenon in which parents have feelings of sadness and loss when the last of their children move out. It is, of course, natural to encourage a child’s independence, and to expect them to want to get out into the world, but the transition can be difficult, especially for people who only have one child or strongly identify with their role as a parent.
For those who, like Kellie Irene Flynn, are experiencing feelings of loss because the last of their children have left home, the best response may be to take action. Focus on what you can do to help your child succeed in the world, and make an effort to keep in touch by telephone, text messages and email, and video chatting. If they live close enough, try to plan regular visits. Researchers say parents should remember that while one chapter of life has ended, a new one has begun. Try to look at it as an opportunity to revive interests they haven’t had time for, and to improve the quality of their marriage.
