Some parents really miss the lively action when their last child leaves home. If you’re dreading the day you and your spouse become empty nesters, here are a couple of ideas to help you with the transition.

Redecorate: This doesn’t mean that you have to completely do everything over, but take the time to make some changes to make your home something different for the two of you. You could take the leaves out of your dining table to create an intimate setting for you and your spouse or small dinner parties. If your child’s room will be kept the same for holidays, you can still move out-of-season clothes to the newly-emptied closet and tidy it up to your taste. Painting a wall or two anywhere in your home can also make everything feel fresh and new.

Travel: Now that it’s just the two of you, plan a trip. You could choose a cruise or an international tour, or if budgets are tight due to tuition costs, how about a weekend road trip to a fun destination? Stay at a bed & breakfast – great for adults but often not a good choice for children – and explore the surrounding area.

Do something new: With some extra time, how about joining a club or taking up something you’ve always wanted to do? Learn gourmet cooking or golf, join a gym, or take an art class, volunteer at your local school, library or hospital. Maybe you’ve always wanted to do something as simple as taking long walks early in the morning before it gets hot. Now is the time to pull out some of those old dreams and dust them off.

Your child is off making major changes, so why not join the fun? You’re starting a new phase in your life, so enjoy it.