Neida, jeg er ikke rammet at "Empty-nest" syndromet... tror jeg, men det kjennes rart å ha hele huset for seg selv. Ikke bare en kveld, en uke... men for alltid! Og samtidig som det kjennes rart - så håper en liksom at det virkelig BLIR for alltid, at "kyllingene" ikke flytter hjem igjen etter noen måneder, det kan oppleves som et nederlag - og DET ønsker du ikke at dine "kyllinger" skal oppleve.

Når en kikker på nettet er det ikke vanskelig å finne tekst som handler om fenomenet, men selv om jeg helt klart ikke er alene i verden - blir det ikke bedre for det!-/

En kveld kom jeg over et lite dikt av "K. E. Roberts" og selv om hun er mor og jeg er far - er nok følelsene de samme:

Empty Nest

What happened to the old days
our carefree way of life.
When everything seemed easy
no trouble and no strife.
When life was meant for living
not just for getting by.
When families were together
and the years just seemed to fly.

At least I have my memories
of laughter and of light.
To remind me of the happy times
when I can't sleep at night.
When everything's a struggle
and I wonder why I bother.
Suddenly the phone will ring
"Hello, how are you mother?"

I suppose that I am selfish
though, I don't mean to be.
I know they have their own lives
and rarely think of me.
I wasn't any different
when I was round their age.
Mothers take a back seat
husbands and wives have centre stage.

I really must look forward
to the time I hope will come.
The phone will ring more often
"Can you watch the kids, please Mum?"
No doubt I'll be complaining
just as my mum used to do
They say history repeats itself
I hope that's really true.

Kan jo ikke si at sistemann ut var av typen som bråket mest her i verden, men likevel - tre timer alene og jeg savner allerede de små lydene han tross alt forårsaket...

"Empty-nest syndrome is the name given to the constellation of feelings many parents have when their last or only child leaves home, and they no longer have a baby "chick" in their nest."