[move-on-by]

> I was suddenly overwhelmed with purposelessness

My kids are young enough that I don’t need to worry about it yet, but I can totally see how I might have the same issue. Beyond just myself, my partner is just as invested in the kids and I can foresee needing to rediscover ourselves together. Do you have any advice, tips, or insights for new empty nesters?

[roody15]

No, unfortunately this has been extremely difficult in my life. With raising children you have a shared goal and in although its hard it makes life simpler in you have something meaningful to focus on. Without kids we have had to face our own emotional issues and dynamics and this has not been easy.

[JKCalhoun]

Not really. I can say though that it is true—my wife and I suddenly can enjoy just the two of us gong out to dinner on a Friday night again.

It's hard trying to remember what it was we did before the kids. In some ways it doesn't matter though—we're both a lot older and we probably would not do many of the same things.

We've also at this point spent decades together, working together on the family. It's nice to just work on an electronics project. And I think my wife is happy to go knit or make a quilt. So we do out own things—just across the room from each other.