The End of An Era: The Grief in Letting Go, Transitioning into Adult Parenting

Navigating the Emotional Rollercoaster of Sending Your Child to College

In this deeply personal episode, we explore the emotional journey of a parent preparing to send their oldest child off to college. With a blend of joy, grief, confusion, and introspection, this episode discusses the unique perspective of raising children with significant age gaps and the lessons learned from both experiences. From sleepless nights of worry to celebrating milestones, the narrative offers heartfelt advice and key findings from research that can support other parents going through a similar phase. The episode provides insights on maintaining connections, self-care, and embracing the new era of parenthood. As we prepare our children for their new independent journey, we also find ways to reclaim our own identities and cherish the evolving parent-child relationship.

00:00 Introduction: What's Next for Me?

00:35 Preparing for the Empty Nest

02:42 Reflecting on Motherhood

06:31 The Grief of Letting Go

07:56 Research and Insights

15:56 Creating New Traditions

23:08 Navigating Emotions and Changes

28:03 Embracing the New Era

29:52 Conclusion: A Time of Growth