The Nest.

     Empty Nest is more than just a terrible TV show from the eighties that never should have gotten off the ground. It happens when children leave the house and parents, who were so enmeshed with the lives of their children, have no idea what to do with themselves. It usually has a negative connotation and is associated with depression. Not everyone goes through it, some people - like my parents - were super excited to have an empty nest. Some people - like my parents - even try to move without telling their children where they went. Regardless, I think there are two things parents can do to prevent an empty nest feeling and they should start as early as possible.
     The first step is having a life outside of your children. I imagine some people would turn their noses up at this, because it may sound too selfish. Well, it's not. It's called self-care and everyone should participate in it. That lady who drove her children into the river? She had zero self-care and no life outside her children. That's bad.
     Want to prevent infanticide? Go out on a date! Get a life, more importantly, get a life that has nothing to do with your children. It doesn't mean you don't love your kids, or that your kids aren't important, it just means you don't want to kill them or go insane when they leave the house. If you want to read, write, start a blog, whatever you want! The whole point is that you have something to talk about with your significant other. Find something interesting and go to it. Because in all honesty, you may not be able to enjoy your empty nest for all that long.