Life might feel quieter than you expected. And the memories catch you off guard…
People may tell you to celebrate that your children have “launched” and moved forward in life.
Part of you does celebrate.
But another part of you is grieving, and that grief is valid.
The house might feel quieter than you expected. You may find yourself asking, “Who am I now?” for the first time in decades —
even while everyone around you is telling you to enjoy life now that the kids have moved on.
But you’re constantly filled with memories, and you miss them.
This might sound familiar…..
“I’m so proud of them and how they’ve grown, so why am I crying?”
“I don’t know who I am without ‘mom’ or ‘dad’ as my role.”
“I miss the version of my life that’s done now — what’s next?”
Asking, “Who am I now?” isn’t weakness.
Your identity, your daily purpose, your sense of home — all of it shifts when your children move on in life.
That’s not something to push past quickly. It’s an honest question, and it deserves real space.
How we work together…
This grief is often dismissed, but it is real and challenging.
If your children have left home, you may be struggling to find your role after a lifetime of planning, caring, organizing and providing. Our work together leans on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness/somatic/EMDR techniques, compassion-focused and narrative-based approaches to help you explore who you are becoming, not just mourn who you were.
From one parent to another…
Raising children asks everything of you for years — and then, when that season changes, it’s natural to feel untethered and disoriented, even when you are happy for them to move forward.
I’ve felt that feeling of disorientation through my experiences with my own kids, and I bring that understanding to my work with you.
You don’t have to figure out who you’re becoming, alone.