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Can you cope with the empty nest?
You've nursed, nagged and nurtured this kid for nearly two decades, and now your last or only child is gearing up to go away to university. You're a parent, and that plays a large part in how you define yourself. How ready are you for an empty nest?

Contributed by Joy Newton, with consultation by Virginia Beache Rutter, the author of
Embracing Persephone: How to Be the Mother You Want for the Daughter You Cherish.

 

send this quiz to a friendsee all quizzes
 
 
1. When it comes to university, your teenager thinks the further away from home, the better. Your take:
  No way - if something happens and my child needs me, I could never get there in time.
  It'll be hard with all that distance between us, but my child is applying to good universities - I'd consider it.
  Distance makes the heart grow fonder.
 
2. If your student comes home for visits with piles of dirty laundry, you'd feel:
  Insulted - I'd say, 'I'm not your cleaning lady anymore.'
  Of course I'd do the laundry - my child couldn't identify fabric conditioner if I served it for breakfast.
  Sort of annoyed, but the truth is, I like feeling useful.
 
3. Your kid, the ultimate adventurer, wants to spend the summer before university (and her life savings) in America. Your response:
  I'm not exactly thrilled at the idea, but I am prepared to negotiate, say, one month in America.
  Wow, what a great opportunity, for both of us - I could do with some time to myself or alone with my husband.
  Absolutely not - this is our last chunk of time as a family, and we're spending it on the same continent.
 
4. Your child says he'd like to hold off on university and get a job in another city for a while. You think:
  Great idea - my child needs to learn how to pay bills and take care of himself.
  If my child wants to work and consider options, he can do it from home, save some money, eat nutritious food and get appropriate guidance.
  I'm stumped - I'd worry my heart out, but it does seem like an interesting idea.
 
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