Arizona Empty Nesters

So, your kids have finally flown from the proverbial “nest.” Although not recognized by psychological professionals as a true clinical condition, empty nest syndrome can take its toll on parents. Depression, grief, and loneliness can set it for a short while or even an extended period. If you aren’t one of the lucky ones who is immediately relieved at the newfound freedom (congrats if you are!), here are a few ways to ease the stress and fill your free time. From a simple phone call to dance lessons, you have plenty of options to brighten your days!

Keep in Touch

Just because your kids are all grown up, it doesn’t mean you have to stop talking to them! Often, the best way to deal with not seeing them every day is just by keeping in touch. A phone call can go a long way to comfort you. If you and your son or daughter have the time, make a parent/kid date out of it! Plan a day and time every week where you know you’ll get to chat and catch up. That way, you keep up to date in their life without being the overbearing parent who calls every hour on the hour. Stay in touch with things like Skype, FaceTime, and the like if you won’t get to see their face in person for a while. Technology has made keeping in touch incredibly easy, so there are no excuses.

Get a Job

The majority of parents who deal with empty nest issues were stay-at-home parents. Now that you have the time, get a job. Just because you don’t have a person to take care of, it doesn’t mean you are useless to the world. You have plenty to offer, so find your calling and get back into the work force. You’d be amazed at how much just getting a job can do to improve your self-esteem.

Reconnect With Your Partner

Some adults think that children are what keep their marriage together. The honest truth is that you actually tend to disconnect from your partner when you have kids. All of the attention in your relationship shifts to the needs of the child, so you lose sight of your romantic side. With your newly empty house, now is the time to rekindle and reconnect. Find a romantic activity for you to do together while you start a new journey. One of the best activities for bonding with your spouse is private partner dance lessons. Whether you love Country music and the fun of Two Step or want to explore the sensual side of Latin dancing, partner dancing allows you to rediscover yourselves physically and mentally. Work together to achieve a goal and gain a new skill together at the same time. Dance is also an incredible stress reliever, so you can get even more out of it than you expect.

If you’re in the greater Phoenix area and want to explore dance, join us at Dance FX Studios. We are in Mesa, just minutes away from Phoenix, Chandler, Tempe, and Gilbert. We offer completely customized private dance lessons for you and your partner (or just you) in a variety of dances. Join us for an introductory lesson so we can help find the right dances for you. You may fall in love with Argentine Tango, or you may want to learn some fun Jitterbug steps. No matter the case, we’ll get you on the best path. If private lessons aren’t for you, we also offer group dance lessons so you can have a little more company on the dance floor.

Contact us to begin your dancing journey…

Private dance lessons are available by appointment Monday-Friday from 12-8 pm and on Saturdays from 10 am-3 pm. For more information, call us today at 480.968.6177.