Feb 14, 2020
Empty nesting isn't just a "syndrome"--it's a life changing
event in so many ways!
Dr. Dianne Ansari-Winn and Dr. Toyin Felusi are empty nesters and
living on their own after their kids have gone to college. It is a
positive time for kids, but can be a hard time for parents. There
is so much in this episode--personal experiences and practical
advice for parents who are going through this experience or know
someone who is going through it.
Dr. Dianne and Dr. Toyin, who have become great friends since they
did their first podcast in November 2017 where they discussed Dr.
Toyin's book on divorce, candidly discuss their experiences with
having first one child, then 2 years later a second child leave for
college, their experiences of loss afterward, and their strategies
to maintain their health and well-being, and eventually thrive in
their new lives.
They suggest how to best support your child when they do launch as
well as how they are learning and navigating their new identities
as parents without children living with them. They also share what
it's like to live by themselves after decades of living with
family.
Dr. Toyin shows how one can use Stephen Covey's "7 Habits of Highly
Effective People" as a guide to develop your own strategies and
personal development into adjusting to the changes in life and a
new way of being in multiple new roles and a new place in life.
Dr. Dianne discusses empty nest as a loss with accompanying grief
as well as change in parenting style and identity. She gives advice
on how to be with, embrace and accept where you are, even if it
hurts, so that you can move forward, including seeing a mental
health professional if needed, as depression is a concern and the
symptoms can look a lot like grief.
Dr. Toyin and Dr. Dianne then discuss things that worked for them
to work through their experiences of empty nest changes, and
embrace their new lives, including adding more activities that
satisfy their need to give to the world at large.
Examples include Dr. Toyin's volunteering, mentoring, podcasting,
and her book, and through Dr. Dianne's work as a coach, book
author, speaker and training physicians in how to be peer
coaches.
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Want to learn more and hear more from Dr. Toyin?
Read her book The Decade After--Thriving After Divorce
www.thedecadeafter.com on Amazon in print, Kindle and
audiobook.
You can find Dr. Toyin's podcast "10 minutes with TmFal" on your
favorite podcast app--iTunes, Spotify, Anchor, Google podcast to
name a few.
Reach Dr. Toyin on Facebook at thedecadeafter
Want to learn more about Dr. Dianne's work, read her book "Doctor,
Heal Thyself", get in touch with her to work with her, learn more
about becoming a coach yourself, or having Dr. Dianne come an speak
to your group or give a workshop? Go to www.drdianne.com.
Did you like this episode? Don't forget to subscribe, listen to
other episodes, and share!
Do you have suggestions for podcast episodes? Send them to
dianne@dianneansari-winn.com.