How does the kitchen feel in an empty nest? Mapping emotions in Polish kitchens

Abstract

This paper addresses the spatial dimension of the empty nest experience. The assumption that the departure of adult children from home leaves the nest empty is challenged in this study. We delve into the lived experiences of parents left behind to reconstruct their encounters with kitchen space in a post-parental home. Drawing upon evidence from participant-generated data (138 emotion maps) and 69 map-elicited interviews conducted in the administrative provinces of Pomorze and Wielkopolska in Poland, we identify the kitchen as a key place where family relations are practised. The analysis of the material allowed us to reconstruct the relationship between ‘empty nest’ kitchen and emotions, as seen by the participants. Four themes that have emerged: bonds, memory, social roles and territorial claims account for the relationship between individuals and the spatial dynamics they navigate during this significant life transition. Through an exploration of parents’ subjective experiences, we seek to provide a deeper understanding of how kitchen space is perceived and engaged with within the context of the empty nest.