I got an email from a friend today telling me she just turned 50, her youngest starts college soon, and she has now finally rotated off all the school committees on which she was involved for so many years.  She sounded so . . . relaxed.  I don’t think as moms we realize how much pressure we’re under all the time, taking care of everyone’s needs, trying to run the house, probably working outside the house as well, and worrying about everything from our new babies to our new drivers.  My friend is now entering the Empty Nest stage, and this, contrary to rumors, actually presents some enjoyable opportunities, especially in her home.  For one, she has more space.  For another, she has more time. Let’s take a look at both these aspects of “life beyond kids.”  (For a really nice read about this stage, see this article in Baltimore’s Style Magazine.)

* More space.  Once the hockey sticks are gone, and you’re no longer tripping over the shoes in the middle of the living room, and the bathrooms are not in constant use, the house gets eerily quiet and suddenly large.  Before you start dragging out the baby pictures and reminiscing, think about what you would like to do with this new space.  A sewing room?   An art studio?  A yoga or meditation room? (I found the picture above on a lovely blog named Beauty That Moves.)  An expanded area for entertaining?  A room-sized closet?  The options are really limitless.  In your zeal, however, don’t forget to save some space for the kids when they come home. And talk with them before you dismantle their childhood rooms.  You may be surprised how they feel about those hideaways.  My mom transformed my room into a guest room when I was in college, and I actually liked coming home to such a neat, sparse space.  But I knew she was doing it.

* More time.  Now that’s you’re not constantly trying to keep the fridge stocked, or running around to band concerts, you have time to indulge in entertaining a bit more or spending more time on a beloved hobby such as gardening.  Now may be the time to remodel the kitchen or put in that waterfall or koi pond (here’s how).  You can also get long-awaited renovations completed without so many people underfoot.

* You may find that you just don’t want the big house anymore.  Now is an opportune time to get your home in tip-top shape for selling it.  Curb appeal and first impressions matter, especially in today’s market, so don’t think “as is” is going to work in your favor right now.  Why not start with pressure washing?  That’s what Kudzu’s Must-Do 52 suggests for this week, anyway. Look at the gorgeous transformation that this house undergoes, starting with pressure washing.  And look what’s there right in the middle of the pictures!  Baby birds!

Find service companies on Kudzu who can help your home transition to this new life stage for you, or help you make it look its best so it’s ready for discriminating buyers–and the new baby they are sure to have.