Parents can feel an emotional upheaval when their children venture off to find their fortunes. Empty nest syndrome is legitimate.

From the moment the child is born, the focus of a parent becomes the best survival of that child. While watching out for the next milestone, personal activities and relationships can fall away.

Start asking yourself what you’d like to be doing. What is fun for you? Re-engage with those things. Find time for yourself before your child leaves the nest so you can start to reclaim friendships and discover new interests for yourself.

Listen as Samantha Lewis joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss how to prepare yourself for and survive empty nest syndrome.