For most mums, the day their kids leave feels like a victory.

You might even be planning what you'll do with all that free time. No more mountains of laundry, arguments over dinner or acting as a free taxi service.

But for many women, an empty nest isn't just freedom, it's loss. When motherhood has shaped so much of your daily life and identity, the silence can be unsettling as you move around a house that was once loud, busy and joyful.

Yumi Stynes chats with women who have navigated the grief of their changing relationships with their kids, finding a deeper connection with themselves, and a renewed sense of self.

Plus clinical psychologist Dr Victoria Miller unpacks why the empty nest can feel so lonely, and the steps you can take to fill the child free void.  

This episode will answer questions like:

• How long does empty nest grief last?
• Is empty nest syndrome real?
• What happens to a marriage after the kids move out?
• How often should I contact my adult child?
• Why am I sad my kids moved out?

What to listen to next:

Relationship resuscitation — coming back from the brink — ABC listen

Am I stuck in a sex rut? — ABC listen

Jess Mauboy steps into her boss lady era — ABC listen

What to read next:

Why these women have never had a partner 

The joys of having babies in your 40s

This episode contains references to grief, loneliness, purpose, empty nesting, leaving home, children, marriage, retirement