“Sunsets are proof that endings can be beautiful”
-Beau Taplin
Hey Mama,
How is your summer going? It went by fast for us. We’ve officially rounded the corner from summer boat trips and barbeques and are now in the back-to-school craze phase. I have one year until my youngest goes off to college, but I can feel that Empty Nesting is right around the corner. When I think about her graduating next year, a bittersweet mix of excitement and nostalgia washes over me like waves crashing on the shore. I’m filled with a sense of pride, yet there’s a twinge of sadness knowing that my role as an active parent in my daughters’ daily lives is coming to an end. But just like a sunset, I am reminded that endings can be beautiful in their own way, because they are always followed by a beautiful sunrise, a new beginning, and I’m committed to finding joy in this new journey.
Empty Nesting can evoke a whirlwind of emotions for parents, especially for some of you that have your last baby preparing to spread their wings and fly. The impending transition from bustling family life to a quieter empty home can stir up so many emotions and leave you feeling a little lost and unprepared. It can be a bit overwhelming, but you will find Joy in this chapter too. I promise.
My youngest is moving out next year and we are selling our Park City home of twelve years. So our family made a list of all the things we want to do in Utah before we move on to our next chapter. We have lots to pack in! Our family created a new, year-long bucket list called “The Last Chapter” We are so excited to hike new trails, camp at new locations, ski at a few new resorts, and even take a horse drawn carriage ride up to a yurt two nights before Christmas to have dinner with friends and family. We have always wanted to do that!
If your youngest is graduating or you still have a child at home like me, maybe now’s a good time for you to make your own bucket list. Here are some heartfelt suggestions to make your last summer (or last year with kids at home) special.
- Plan meaningful activities – Your senior is going to be so busy this year making new friends, or wrapping up their last year of high school, so it’s important to give them space, but also plan some quality family time together. Plan special outings, family vacations, or activities that hold sentimental value. Whether it’s a beach day, camping trip, or a simple picnic in the park, cherish these moments of togetherness. Nostalgic road trip to somewhere they went to when they were a child. That’s always a good one.
- Have heart-to-heart conversations – Use this time to have open and honest conversations with your child. Celebrate the milestones your child has achieved over the years and reflect on the growth and development you’ve witnessed. Share your hopes, dreams, and words of encouragement as they get ready to embark on this new chapter in their life. Remind them that they are capable young adults and will figure things out.
- Browse through memory lane photo albums – Going through old photos, and mementos from their childhood and high school years can be a fun way to reminisce about the past and reflect on the journey you’ve taken as a family. Old videos are always great to watch too. Boy do we look young, lol.
- Family reunion – Have an amazing family reunion at one of your child’s favorite places. Reconnecting with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins is a great way to strengthen family ties before they finish their last year of school or head off to college. We created a new family group text and use it all the time!
- Create new traditions – Ask your child what new traditions and rituals you can carry forward even as your child finishes up high school or prepares to leave the nest. These can serve as a bridge between the past and the future, connecting your family across the miles. It’s a good time to gauge your child’s expectations about how they are hoping their last year of high school goes, or how their first year of college goes. Bonus: Teach them how to cook some of their favorite meals if you haven’t already.
- Express gratitude and love – Take the time to express your love, appreciation, and gratitude for your child. Let them know how proud you are of the person they have become and the bright future you know awaits them. Remind them how much they have completely filled up your life by just being around you.
- Don’t forget the hugs, the kisses, and …letters – It’s so fun to reminisce on all the fun times you’ve had as a family. Make sure to shower them with lots of extra hugs and kisses (queue the eye rolls). Another way to make your child feel special during this important time is to enlist the help of family members, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, teachers, friends, etc. to write your child a letter with all of their favorite memories of them. Collect as many as you can and give this box to them on graduation or move out day…and be sure to grab a box of tissues. When we did this, our girls’ cried tears of joy. It was beautiful to watch them read through the letters filled with laughter and love. They will cherish these letters forever.
As you navigate this emotionally charged summer, remember that change is a natural part of life’s journey. Embrace the beautiful bond you share with your child and find solace in knowing that your love and connection will endure as they wrap up high school or venture out into the world.
As I prepare to launch my book out into the world (my 4th child as we like to call it around here), our team at The Empty Nester Club wanted to do something special for our subscribers. We have created our very first Virtual Book Club starting August 21st.
I personally, will be taking 20 members through an incredible 4-week journey. Diving deep into the three sections of the book, The Past, The Present, The Future, and the lessons within.
Together, we will:
- Read the book
- Work through the Reflection Exercises
- Share our discoveries & Support each other
- Identify what we want more of for our future
- Design an actionable game plan for achieving it
- Apply my coaching framework to help you design your next, best chapter!
Book club members receive a free advanced e-copy of my book The Almost Empty Nester, a bookmark, and a personalized gift! Join us Wednesdays at 5 PM MST starting August 21st. Let’s embrace the next chapter together! Don’t worry, if this timing doesn’t work for you, we are going to have more Virtual Book clubs when the book releases September 17th, because it’s more fun to go through the exercises in the book with friends.
Wishing you the best last days of summer filled with beautiful sunrises and incredible sunsets!
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