Things I'm Struggling With. Empty Nest Syndrome, Menopausal Weight Gain, Missing My Parents....

Hi friends. I sincerely debated making this video and I have to admit, that I feel very vulnerable putting this out there. But I know we all struggle at certain times and for me, hearing about someone else’s struggles, always seems to make my own seem lighter. Thank you so much for watching!

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[sonnyrock]

I think I'm the first man to comment? I've pretty much worked from home for the past 20+ years. I was here when they left for school, came home in the afternoons, went to dance, sports, etc. 3 of our 4 children have left the house and our youngest daughter graduates from high school Spring 2025 and I am dreading it so much!! I have been depressed since Fall 2022 when our 3rd child left for college out of state. I am a man, all man. . . yet, I feel like crying all of the time, I feel sad & lonely all of the time, and my life is fantastic!! I miss my young kids, the house full of energy. Most often, dinner time is my wife & I when we used to have a table of 6 every night. I know it's all part of growing older. If I didn't have a relationship with God, I would be so screwed.
Thank you for posting this Vid.

[ladymuscat]

Thank you so much for this. Everything you said is what I'm going through. I made my husband watch so maybe he understands my emotions. Sometimes I'm in such a mess I try to hide it all and then break down when his out of the house.
❤❤❤

[lynneedwards]

The empty nest hit me hard, too, Tina. I feel extremely guilty at the times I was impatient hoping they would hurry and get out of a certain stage. Wish I could go back now. Don’t worry about the projects. The to-do list will always be there and give you things to work on when you feel like tackling them. (I miss my mom, too. Really badly some days) Your subscribers are leaving very kind comments. I hope you can find some comfort in them! Take care!!!

[missykemp]

I know this video has been up over a year, but I found it today and have to say “thank you!” Your transparency and honesty is so helpful. I too mourn my kids’ childhoods being over and struggle with guilt over the moments I was not the best mom, or wished time away when they were small. It feels like I would give a great deal now to have one of those sweet and exhausting toddler days to live again. I think this is an adjustment season to work through but hearing someone else voice the same feelings is incredibly helpful.

[mkbrown]

Motivation issue is part of Menopause too. Baby steps. Do one little project a day....You don't need to apologize Menopause is

[mariac]

I think what people who aren't going through this don't realize is that us empty nesters are often going through multiple things at once-loss of parents, missing our children, physical changes to our bodies including our energy levels and motivation. It feels like lots of loss at once and can feel daunting. Hang in there-and lean into prayer if you are able. I really miss my nurturing years.

[leahjett]

Please don't feel like you need to apologize for getting emotional. Most of us watching are struggling with the same feelings or we wouldn't have clicked on your video. I feel so lost without my boys, both who are grown and doing incredibly great. I should be happy, right? Instead, I sit and cry in despair at times. I too reflect on my failings as a parent. I was a single mom who was just trying to make ends meet. I was often exhausted and stressed. I never new how difficult this new stage in life would be. I saw a quote earlier that said, "loneliness is having a story and having no one with whom to share it." Thank you for sharing and being so vulnerable. It helps to know that I am not the only woman who isn't enjoying this long awaited freedom.

[sarahlynn]

My son just moved out of our house today with two of our fur babies (cats). I'm going to miss all of them. My son is my heart beat! At the same time I'm going through horrific perimenopause with hormones that make me so emotional for no reason, my health is declining with debilitating autoimmune disease, I realize after being a mom full time for so many years that I don't know who I am and I'm not looking forward to tomorrow morning when I'm totally alone and the quiet after my husband goes to work. I have no siblings or other family, so it's just me. My mother whom was my best friend on this earth died when I was 35 in 2013 after I cared for her for 8 1/2 years with cancer. It was grueling to see my mother go through so much and then she was just gone. My father passed in 2021, but I did not have a good relationship with him, but I still love him and miss him. I wish I had my Mom many times, but especially today. I can't stop crying I'm missing my son.

I'm 46 now and at a big crossroad. A new chapter in my life, but thankfully I do have a wonderful loving supportive husband. I really appreciate that. My mother had to go through this stage in life when I left home, completely alone. My parents divorced when I was a child. I do not know how she did it and I wish I had her here to console me. This would be so much easier if she were here and what I would give to hug her just one more time! So now I'm a mess grieving the last chapter of my life and reflecting at all the loss, mistakes, mortality, and memories, but reminding myself of all that I have to gain in the future.

Lots of changes this year. We're selling the house we raised our son in after living here 24 years. I too see all the memories everywhere and it's going to be so hard to leave. My last memories with my mother are here too.

I also love my mother in law. I'm very lucky! Sadly she's now battling cancer as well. She's the last parent we have. My father in law died in 2018. You really start to think of your own mortality and making each day count.

I guess my job is now discovering who I am and enjoying the freedom with my husband. Thank you for sharing your story. You're not alone. I relate so much. ❤️

[beautifullifesageg.]

Yes yes and yes. My first child just left for college at 21. I still have one at home who is about to start college. I am 54 and an elementary school teacher for the last 25 years. I am fine with the quiet, but I miss my son terribly. He has always been such a peaceful kid. His energy is just lovely. I’m also in menopause and getting used to the new ways I need to take care of my body. Last, I too miss my mom. She passed a few years ago and I wanted to share so many more things with her. With my many thoughts and feelings, and time, I am deciding to develop my creative self. So more crafting, more cooking, and starting my own YouTube channel, Beautiful Life Sage. I hope that telling the stories, like you did in this video, of my life in my 50s, can help other women going through transitional life stages. Thank you for this video and for creating this space. I appreciate you!❤🙏

[jadabrianna]

I’m actually going through this right now my daughter 22 years old just got her apartment and as I’m happy for her I’m also sad for myself and I feel like all my feelings won’t allow me to be fully happy. Her and I are so close, and I feel like the bond is going to be broken due to her busy life and her having a partner. my mom six years ago and I miss her so much. I wish I can share my thoughts with her in this moment about her grandchild moving. It was nice to click on this video and see so many others that are going through the same emotions and thank you for sharing yours. all I’m asking is this community to pray for me that I will overcome this whirlwind of emotions

[Sheilac]

I know exactly how you feel. Thank you for speaking out. I find myself missing my 3 boys so much. When I see moms out with their children, I get jealous. I yearn to have my kids young and at home again. I cry daily. Your video helped me. Thank you. Oh my name is Sheila Clary

[susanpunako]

Hello there Tina. Sweet lady thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings with us. So open and such sensitive information. But. You aren’t alone. You’ll be very shocked to learn how many of us women experience the same exact things as you are. I absolutely do too. I am 60 years old with no children left at home. Just my fur babies and thank god for them. I lost both my parents 5 years ago now and I lost them both in 60 days. Yes 60!days and poof they were gone. Yea I took care of them and looked out for them as they were still living in an apartment for elderly but I watched them fade away fast. But I wasn’t ready for them to leave me. I feel orphaned and so alone too. Some days the emptiness and that pain makes me cry and makes me sad then I have some better days. I have been menopausal now for 7 years and that was easy and smooth no real problems…. Until the hot flashes started and the crying and weight gain and depression it all hit like a freight train. Talk about lack of motivation huh!! Let me say I stare at what needs to be done most days. I have to literally just dig into my weekly house cleaning with no interest. I get that done. But as far as my zest to get up and go weed my gardens it go shopping has flown out the windows especially since I’ve been conditioned to stay home since covid. I don’t wanna go anywhere. Most times someone could say hey here’s $500 go shopping and have fun. I’d say nah not today. Ya know what I mean.? I am a RN by profession and have been off per doctors orders since Covid hit and am getting ready to start back to work soon and am scared I will be a slug at work. I’m used to hitttjng the floor running and never stop for 16 hours a day. Now I am wondering wether I can even hit the floor creeping along. Lol I haven’t rode my bike. I haven’t done any trail walking I haven’t been swimming all but twice this summer. I am sick of thinking what to cook for dinner. I don’t walk the dog anymore because it’s been soo hot here in Pennsylvania this summer. Even though I live in the country it’s just been a long hot lazy days for me. Heck all these clothing pieces I love and buy from the style boxes still have tags on them yet I am waiting for some magic dust to be sprinkled over me to get me kick started again. I wanna do a life rewind and be 30 years younger and appreciate raising my kids and having patience. But I guess we have a good life with wonderful children who are adults and so we literally have to take baby steps to adjust to our new season in life. It’s been hard for me to girl. You’re not alone. I’m right here with ya. I thought you addressed what most of us middle age women deal with daily. Thanks for sharing your heart. See you next video. 🤗

[BecomingVT]

I'm so happy I found your channel and this video. It's so hard to talk about our feelings and be so vulnerable behind the camera, but your audience is watching and saying "I absolutely relate and know how you feel" (especially those of us who are empty nesters and who are grieving losses) Thank you Tina for sharing.

[darleenaldridge]

As a Mom of 4 boys, I totally understand. When they all left home my husband and I hated the quiet, it was deafening . We all looked forward to bed time, but we also looked forward to the next morning . No body is a perfect mom, thankfully we get a second chance with grandkids . Being a parent is the hardest thing we ever do . If you feel bad about something, you can tell your kids you are sorry and probably they will tell you it’s fine ❤️ . You are a gorgeous beautiful woman . But I understand how you feel, because I have gained some weight too . I know what loss is because I lost my oldest child, but I’m not going to make this about me, God is the only reason I survived, and still survive … I really hope you find peace . I can only offer that you pray 🙏 . Don’t be sorry, thanks for sharing ♥️❤️

[bizprofitwithali]

You're absolutely rocking this new phase of life! Your strength, resilience, and grace are truly inspiring. Empty nest doesn't mean empty life—it means new adventures, opportunities, and time to focus on YOU. Keep shining and showing us all how it's done!

[sheilahall]

I think there are very few moms that didn’t look forward to bedtime. Tina please give yourself some grace, I think you are being too hard on yourself. I totally understand missing your kids. I live in Iowa and my two adult girls live in Texas and Sydney Australia. I haven’t seen my daughter in Australia since 2019. Thank goodness for FaceTime. Please give yourself some grace.

[TheSmcdona]

Thank you for being so real. We need more of that!

[bamagal]

I got teary eyed listening to you. We have a lot in common. I lost my sweet Daddy a few months ago and sometimes I think I’m OK and then sometimes I think about him and literally lose my breath. My husband and I are empty nesters (youngest is away at college), and he travels some for work, so I understand an empty house . Thank you for being so open about your feelings on motherhood. I dare say most of us have felt that way at one time or another. Blessings to you❤️

[jday]

Thank you for being transparent. Some of us didn’t have a great relationship with our parents and there’s a lifetime of pain around that. We miss the parents we never had. I became an empty nester during Covid. I cried walking through the mall where my daughter and I enjoyed shopping together and am still working through the sadness. Im glad you made this video. It’s good to know our struggle is universal and good to see another being honest with their feelings. Thank you. I genuinely feel your pain ❤

[elizabethcurran]

Tina, I’m listening putting on my makeup. I had to stop 😢. You are going through exactly what I am with so many things. Thank you for speaking your truth. It does make me feel so much better also. ❤️