新聞報道中，空巢族總是被描述為值得關注和同情的一個群體。他們的孩子不在身邊，他們的生活了無生趣。可是在國外，孩子成年從家里搬出去獨立生活，父母成了空巢族，但是他們一點都不失落。他們覺得重新獲得了自由，在家里活動的空間更大，所以，他們是快樂的空巢族。

The day the children move out of home and start a life of their own is a milestone many mothers dread. Or do they?
孩子們從家里搬出去開始獨立生活是很多母親都害怕面對的一個時刻。真的是這樣嗎？

Far from rattling about their empty nest, most women find themselves enjoying their new freedom and savouring the pleasure of having their home to themselves.
大部分女性（在孩子搬出去以后）并沒有成天在空蕩蕩的屋子里晃來晃去，而是發現自己特別享受這種重新獲得的自由，也很享受這種整個房子都歸自己的樂趣。

No one raiding the fridge, piling up washing or coming in at all hours seems to have a way of soothing maternal feelings of loss.
沒有人會在冰箱里亂翻、堆起一堆要洗的衣服，或者回家沒點兒，這些似乎對略顯失落的母性情懷有很好的安慰作用。

Researchers surveying mothers who had waved their children off gave them the title ‘happy empty nesters’ – or HENs.
研究人員給這些把孩子送出去自立的母親取了個名字叫“快樂空巢族”，簡寫為HENs。

One in seven mothers said they were not as upset as they thought they would be after their children flew the nest, and a third said they were ‘relaxed’ about the life change.
七分之一的母親表示，孩子搬出去以后他們并沒有想象中那么失落，三分之一的母親則表示對于這樣的生活變化很淡定。

The overwhelming majority said they were delighted to see their offspring gaining some independence.
大部分母親都表示看到自己的孩子獨立很開心。（英文來源：Daily Mail）

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen）