The empty nest hit hard when all three of her children left for Fordham University in New York, even though the youngest is joining older twin siblings on the same campus.
She says the unusual setup has its comforts. Her children can have weekly dinner meetups, and she likes knowing they are together. But the first few weeks have still been a struggle, with 'FOMO' every time she talks to them.
To prepare, she spent the past year mentally rehearsing life with all three kids away. She even took her first solo trip. After move-in, she came home and cleaned, decluttered, deep-cleaned bedding, and donated extra sheets, blankets, and towels.
Her husband noticed the silence right away. 'There's no singing anymore,' he told her, a reference to the youngest daughter's habit of belting out songs at home.
She has also tried to create things to look forward to. She and her husband are planning a trip to Greece, and she says planning and researching have helped when she feels sad. She also reconnected with friends who are in the same stage of life, and they agreed to meet for a meal and plan an 'empty nest gathering.'
At the same time, she says her daughter has stayed busy with classes, clubs, and activities, and has not shown much homesickness so far. The daughter was already familiar with campus from visits to her siblings.
There is a practical lesson here for parents, and for anyone managing a major life transition: structure helps, but it does not erase loss. Cleaning, planning, travel, and social plans can fill the calendar. They do not replace the daily noise of a full house.
For founders and working parents alike, that is the playbook. When a chapter closes, the fastest way forward is not denial. It is building a new routine, keeping your pipeline of plans full, and giving yourself something concrete to anticipate.
