FRIENDS & FAMILY
Psychotherapist Christine Webber is the author of Too Young to Get Old and Get the Self-Esteem Habit.
Move With the tiMes in midlife, we often say goodbye to life as we knew it. our children may grow up and leave the family home. your relationship with your parents may switch to them needing you instead of you needing them. you need to rediscover your sense of purpose to find out who you now are – and what your role is. Rethink youR RelationshiP
With youR gRoWn ChildRen the transition from dependent child to fully fledged adult can be tricky and you want your relationship to be strong at the end of it! Remember they can no longer be expected to do what you tell them. offer advice when asked but don’t be hurt if they ignore it. seeing them outside the domestic context – at the theatre, out for a meal, a shopping trip – can help nurture your new relationship. you’ll always be Mum – now build a solid friendship too.
folloW youR Passions see this new space as a chance to put yourself centre stage and really explore. are there residential courses or night classes that inspire you? Whether it’s guerrilla gardening, anti-fracking protest or volunteering at a stately home, following your passions will open new doors and introduce like-minded people.