How to Help a Widowed Mom Adjust to an Empty Nest

All parents have to deal with the fact that their children will eventually leave to go to college or simply live on their own. “Empty Nest Syndrome” can be difficult for any parent. A woman who has lost her husband will have an even harder time coping with this situation. It's important that you're there to offer your support for a friend or loved one who is dealing with this process.

Instructions

1. Be somebody that she can talk to about what she's feeling. There's no doubt that she will need to vent to somebody from time to time about living alone. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is sit there quietly while she talks about her empty home or how much she misses her husband and children. Being a shoulder for the mom to cry on will go a long way.

2. Try to get her out of the house as often as you can. This will keep her mind off of the empty nest. Simple things, such as shopping or going out to eat, are a good way to stay busy and keep her away from the empty nest.

3. Throw get-togethers for family and friends at her home. One way to alleviate the feeling of empty nest syndrome is to have the nest full of people. You could have small parties with just a small group of people once a week, for example. Make sure that you plan these events with the mom, though. If she isn't crazy about this idea, you shouldn't invite lots of people over without her knowledge.

4. Help the widowed mom with household chores. Mowing the lawn is a great one to help her with. She may feel overwhelmed with having to do everything around the house herself. Having a helping hand around will decrease the time that she spends by herself in her empty nest.

5. Talk to her about possibly moving into a smaller place of her own. Chances are that the house she's living in now was supposed to be for her entire family and then for her and her husband once the kids were moved out. Unfortunately, that is no longer a possibility. Living in a smaller home or condo, for example, may help her move on. Living in a big house all alone only makes things worse.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't push the dating scene on her if she's not ready. Only the mom will know if and when she's ready to meet somebody new.

• Don't use phrases such as "I know what you're going through" unless you've gone through the exact same thing. Having your children grow up and move away after losing your husband is a very different and difficult situation. Only people who've experienced it can have an appreciation for how difficult a situation it is to go through.