Stress From An Empty Nest : Catless and Kidless

What happens when even the cat is gone!

I find myself in a very quiet house today. There used to be 8 people ,2 gerbils,fish,a bird and a cat. Little by little each child grew up and made a life of their own. Some of the pets past away and then the last child to leave home ,took the cat too! I always thought of him as my cat, but I did'nt buy him from the Humane Society, purchase special food for him each month or pay his vet bills.

My job was to clean the litter box, chase after him when he got outside and do all the grunt work associated with the maintenance of a very heavy(17 pound) long haired orange Tabby.

Oh ! and before I forget…. I had to go get him originally in a January snow storm with instructions to "get there early so no one else takes him".

What we don't do for our kids. I wouldn't even go out for myself in weather like it was that day. Somehow the love for a child can get things done.

I am sure you know what I mean… Your probably wondering what my point is to all this. Well, it is just to say that when all the kids leave for their own lives it IS empty. I can still hear their voices and see their faces in all the photos we have all over the house. When they started leaving home I used to forget sometimes and set the table as if we were all there.

The cat being gone just sort of gave the whole thing a sense of finality.

I talk to them quite a bit and of course lots of e-mails and pics included. I feel like I have retired from a full career and even the cat has moved on.

He was a comfort to me during the time when I had an operation and he seemed to know if I was sad and needed a friend to talk to. I know now why people think of their pets as family and a companion. They listen and don't say a word if you cry about something. They sure can keep a secret too.

So when I said Catless and Kidless you can see what I mean.

My daughter phoned me the other day and said she and her husband had found a kitten for me ….. I guess they understood what it meant to be without someone to take care of.

"A kitten I thought", its like starting over again and there is the cycle beginnig once more.

I feel like a new mother,getting ready for the baby to arrive. I went out and bought all the things the little one will need. I saw a picture of him today in an e-mail. He is only 2.2 pounds.

Am I ready for this? Who knows… All I can tell you is, soon I will no longer be Catless and I never will be really Kidless as our family is only getting bigger and better with each new son or daughter -in- law and the grandchildren are arriving too

For 40 years, 7 months, 4 days and 3.9 hours I suffered from anxiety and panic attacks, especially after my heart attack on Aug 12th,5:00amEST 2006. As a result of my suffering, I decided I would go on a crusade to reveal the most powerful,most effective and most successful system for living an Anxiety and Panic Free Life"- Lorraine Roach,Founder- AnxietyEnded.com Visit http://www.anxietyended.com