By Ellen Edwards, Board of The Counseling Center
Dr. Jane Benjamin, Ph.D., of The Counseling Center here in Bronxville, is quoted in “How to Refeather Your Empty Nest,” by Kaya Laterman, in the Sunday, December 15th issue of The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/13/realestate/how-to-refeather-your-empty-nest.html The article, in the Real Estate section, describes several families who have repurposed their grown and departed children’s bedrooms for a new use, whether it’s to provide space for a new lifestyle or hobby, to rent out to create a revenue stream, or as a guest room for visiting children and their families. Dr. Benjamin, quoted near the end of the article, discusses the complicated emotions parents can feel as their children move on. For empty nesters who keep their child’s room as a shrine full of trophies and mementoes, she describes incremental steps parents can take—offering children the chance to take items they’d like to keep, choosing a few meaningful keepsakes for themselves, and letting the rest go. Working through the sometimes contradictory emotions can lead parents to an acceptance and anticipation of the next stage in life.
The Counseling Center of Bronxville in Westchester provides support and guidance to help you manage a range of issues and anxieties affecting your daily life.
