When couples have children who grow up and move out of the house, those couples are referred to as empty-nesters. This is a significant life change. They may have been parents for decades, but now their children have all moved on to get married, go to school or take other steps in their own lives.
One interesting trend that has been found is that divorce sometimes follows after a couple becomes empty-nesters. But why would this happen? Why would a couple be more likely to split up just because their children moved out of the house?
They were intentionally waiting for that day
In some cases, couples intentionally wait until their children have moved out to get divorced. They may be worried about the impact on the children, or they may just want to create more stability. They want the children to be able to live in the same home, go to the same school, and maintain consistency in their daily lives. So they wait until the children are grown up to end their marriage.
They did not notice their own issues
A second reason is that the couple may have had significant issues in their marriage, but did not realize this beforehand. Being a parent takes a lot of energy and focus, and it can be a major distraction. Couples may have had minor conflicts, but they did not realize how serious those issues were until their children moved out. Then they reassess and find that they are no longer compatible or that they have different plans for the future. That is when they finally decide to get divorced.
Divorce at this age can be different than when couples are younger, so it is crucial for them to understand exactly what legal steps to take.