He didn’t answer. Again.

And even though I told myself not to spiral, I did.
Is he okay? Should I text again? Does it sound familiar?

I had to remind myself of everything I have been coaching on over the years - about independence, trust, and raising capable young men. But in that moment, all I felt was the ache of letting go.

As our children grow up and start leaving home, so many of us parents experience feelings such as grief, excitement, loneliness, lack of purpose, joy, and uncertainty. This wave of conflicting emotions is often referred to as “Empty Nest Syndrome.” While it’s not a clinical diagnosis, it describes the emotional transition parents go through during this stage of life.  You’ve spent years building your life around your kids, always having them in reach and now you’re standing in a quiet house thinking, “What now?”