NEST OF NEW BEGINNINGS

It’s my turn now—to feel the sky, to chase the winds and learn to fly.

I need my space, my voice, my time—

A nest that’s shaped by hands of mine, whispered the fledgling.

No wings remain, yet the warmth stays on—

And I cherish the space to breathe—not what’s gone, but what lives on,

Replied the nest that set it free with good tidings.

‘Empty nest syndrome,’ increasingly affecting families worldwide with children leaving parental homes for education, work or marriage, assumes greater significance in India where joint families have been the norm for generations. The transition from a multi-generational home to a quieter space comes with emotional challenges associated with cultural expectations, family unity, and support. As more Indian families move towards nuclear living, questions are being raised about coping mechanisms and the evolving nature of family life in modern India.

Globalisation and Western cultural influences have undoubtedly changed family dynamics. Women gaining financial independence and pursuing their dream careers have only increased the feasibility and appeal of nuclear households. As patriarchy is being challenged across the spectrum, young Indians have begun to feel that nuclear homes provide a more balanced opportunity to maintain ties with both sets of parents, thereby subtly challenging traditional norms of allegiance to the husband’s family. There is also a noticeable shift in the younger generation, particularly from affluent families, who experience peer pressure to be independent. Consequently, they are moving out of palatial ancestral homes—a move that is increasingly being viewed as a marker of success, autonomy, and modernity. Starting nuclear homes and carving out one’s space reflects a generational desire for self-definition and seems to be the new cool. While this evolution brings greater freedom and flexibility, it also raises questions about the erosion of traditional support systems, elder care, and intergenerational bonding. This can only be achieved through a balance between the old setup and the new reality.

Rising life expectancy, with seniors over 50 set to be around 20% of the total population by 2041, is paradoxically making India a young country but a rapidly ageing one at the same time. Most people experience a sense of vacantness, a lack of purpose, and the feeling that all the pressures of decades were a futile exercise when the kids leave. Feeling a sense of loss when children leave home is natural, but if it lingers and disrupts daily life, it is a case of ‘empty nest syndrome’ or severe depression, according to therapists treating an increasing number of people affected by it. “Living separately from your children can reduce the power struggle in family dynamics and make room for more support, fun, and friendship,” is the advice given to most people seeking therapy.

Like every stage in life, ‘empty nests’ provide tremendous opportunity for personal and spiritual growth. Continuing with professional work, rediscovering self-care related to the body, mind, and spirit, pursuing new hobbies, and acquiring skills that keep one’s spirit of enquiry and curiosity alive are imperative in this state. A life of service to others has been inherent to Indian civilisation and is the best antidote to feelings of depression and alienation. Solitude is a positive attribute as opposed to loneliness gripping the young and old—and empty nesters—with equal intensity. Empty nests are not desolate places. They are just places with fewer inhabitants, who will still be there when you need them. Living a life of purpose and embracing the mindset of an eternal student can infuse our homes—our nests—with life energy and positivity throughout life’s odyssey.

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