[Otter63]

I'm 49 and my children are grown and gone. I keep having dreams that I have a child or, like last night, someone else's children, and I forget that I have them and end up feeling awful that I have neglected them.

I don't have the dream frequently, but I am curious that I have had this same type of dream a number of times.

I feel reasonably good about my mothering. Of course you always feel you should have done some things differently, but my kids are good people.

I feel the dream might be trying to tell me something. Any ideas?

[seelenschmerz]

Perhaps it is telling you that you're neglecting a part of yourself.

Symbol-wise, children can mean a slew of things. It could be your subconcious telling you that you miss your children, or you feel neglected by them.

Do you remember any other details?

[Otter63]

Well ya, you got that right. I miss my kids a lot. I said that they were gone but actually my son lives with us again after having moved out a couple of times. He had a psychotic episode in May and he is very quiet so it's not really like he is here. He was quiet before that but now even more. Empty nest sucks! They don't need me anymore

[Thunder Bow]

Empty Nest can mean Freedom for you now. Children often represent Freedom in dreams. Maybe you are neglecting yourself of your own Freedom. Let your empty nest be a passage to a new free life for you.

[Otter63]

Thank you Thunder Bow. That's an interesting take. I need to chew on that some.