I am 54, married and have two daughters...30 & 32. I am suffering the same feelings of meaninglessness and wondering what my life is for. Once your kids really get into their own lives, your days of mothering are basically over (until they have an emergency). They are no longer your social life, your life, period. I had the career, let it become my life, and burned out.

So I never made the social contacts you might have, girlfriends etc. When I was younger, yes, I had friends, some with kids some not and now, nothing. I am retired early and starting my own business, alone.

I feel alone even though I'm married, have a good life and everything I thought I'd want but it all seems so been there, done that. Or like I've outgrown this life and need to shed it and start over.

I just wanted you to know that I had kids early because my mom died and they created a new instant life for me. But it ends eventually. Holidays are dismal when the kids aren't home. I think sometimes it would have been better to have stayed single with no kids!

And if I had someone to go to lunch with, I wouldn't be talking about my children! But about life, the world, my art!

Diana http://www.myspace.com/withallmyheartart