Empty-Nest Parenting: Adjusting Your Stewardship As Your Children Leave Home by Linda Eyre
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would. Just a few observations... There are lots of comments throughout the book from empty-nest parents, and from children who have left home, including some of the authors' children and "in-law" children. Many of these are insightful and helpful, but many of them are so extreme that I found them to be ridiculous, whether from over-involved parents, or totally hands-off parents. Also, some of the comments from the chilren (sometimes even the author's children) were suprisingly resentful. I felt like they used this public opportunity to punish parents for what they felt they had done that wasn't helpful. It just surprised me. Not that some of their resentments weren't justified, but it left me wanting them to go work things out and come back when the issues were resolved so we could get on with the book.

The authors' (mostly Richard Eyre's) approach isn't exactly my style, but the topics and comments gave me some things to think about, and a better awareness of how to prepare for this very important phase of parenthood.

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