How to Stay Connected After the Kids Move Out
One challenge of empty nest parenting is how to stay connected after the kids move out. I spent years preparing them to live independently, but now I miss the mundane intimacy we shared while they were under my roof. We…
My Dream to Write a Book Came True
To everyone who ever encouraged me to write a book, thank you. I’m excited to share that I’m a contributing author in the recently published collaborative book Reclaiming Me: Embracing Life and Purpose With an Empty Nest. In honor of…
Just Two: The New Reality for Empty Nest Couples
As an empty nest couple with no grandchildren, my husband and I are rediscovering the joy of being “just two” again. So when we agreed to watch our children’s dogs for the weekend while both sets of kids were out…
We’re Related Now (But I Still Don’t Know What to Call You)
Now that we have in-law children, we also have in-law families: parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, both related and honorary. What we lack is an easy way to refer to all of them. As I’m anticipating hosting the extended…
Learning a New Rhythm of Life
It’s Lent. Often during this season I undertake some type of fast, setting aside a habit or a routine from my normal rhythm of life in order to focus more on God. But this year — my first as an…
If Parenting Had Do-Overs
Being an empty-nest parent is like being a Monday morning quarterback. You find yourself looking back on a game you’ve already played, and analyzing what you could have done differently. Prior to motherhood, I was a reasonably confident decision-maker. Parenting…
