I don’t have kids of any age much less college age kids, but even I can imagine the challenges of having your college student home for the holidays after their first semester of being their own boss.  Whew, sounds like there could be some reality checks on both sides!

Natalie Caine became and expert on empty nesting and runs Empty Nest Support Services to help parents and college age kids how to make the transition from parent-teenager to parent-young adult.

“It’s key to remember that who their kids were before they left is not who they are when they come back.”  This is only one of the pearls of wisdom Natalie Caine, The Expert in empty nesting, has to share with us.

Natalie had her own major transition to make when her only daughter made the decision to attend a college 3000 miles away.  Yikes!  She realized then that becoming an empty nester was a bigger transition than she ever imagined it could be.  Since then she has become The Expert on how to manage the various aspects of becoming an empty nester.  

We asked her in this interview specifically to talk to us about that potentially difficult first holiday season with your college student.  After all, they’ve now lived their own life and called their own shots for several months.

Here are the questions she answers for us in this 20 minute interview:

• What kinds of issues are likely to present themselves with your ‘home for the holidays’ college student?
• What are they likely to need most?
• What is the most important thing you can do for them during this time?
• What do you absolutely NOT want to do?
• How do you balance the fact they are back in your house, but they have been their own boss now for 4 months?

Just press the Play button and enjoy!

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