Intelligent Intoxication

In the second stage of motherhood, many women struggle to just “feel better”. 

In this episode, we explore both top-down and bottom-up approaches to healing and wellbeing as the mom of adult children. 

You’ll learn:

This conversation is for moms with adult children who feel unsettled, exhausted, or unsure of what’s next—and want to stop judging themselves for how they’re feeling.

The second stage of life isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about learning how to truly support yourself.

If you know you could use some help as you navigate a new identity as the mother of adult children, you can schedule a complimentary coaching call with me in January, 2026. Here’s the link:

Coaching Call with Terri

Thank you for investing your valuable time and energy into listening to the podcast. I’m so very grateful for you. 

If you enjoyed this episode, you can “tip the bartender” by rating and reviewing the podcast. Your review makes it easier for others to find the podcast. 

Don’t forget to hit the SUBSCRIBE button to be notified any time I pour out a new episode. 

My new book Intentional Intoxication: How To Deliberately Distill The Different Life You Desire, is available on Amazon. You can imbibe on the entire book in one, short, intentionally happier hour:

Intentional Intoxication Book

If you’re interested to know about how I can support you in overcoming the habit of escaping or chasing, I invite you to reach out to me by using the email below and we find a time to chat:

[email protected]

For a quick shot of your life’s current level of intoxication, I invite you to complete the 10 Questions on my Intoxication Inventory:

Intoxication Inventory

In this episode, we explore the subtle but powerful difference between anticipation and presence — and how it impacts your daily peace and joy as the mother of adult children in your second season of life. 

Anticipation pulls your mind into the future, imagining what hasn’t happened yet. While it can create excitement, it often keeps us in a state of waiting, overthinking, or low-grade anxiety.

Presence brings us back to the moment we’re in. It’s the practice of rooting ourselves where our body is, rather than living in a future we can’t control or a past we can’t change. Presence feels grounded, calm, and connected.

This episode invites you to notice where anticipation may be pulling you out of your life — and how gently returning to the present can restore a sense of ease and emotional steadiness.

I invite you to consider this question: 

If you know you could use some help as you navigate a new identity as the mother of adult children, you can schedule a complimentary coaching call with me in January, 2026. Here’s the link:

Coaching Call with Terri

Thank you for investing your valuable time and energy into listening to the podcast. I’m so very grateful for you. 

If you enjoyed this episode, you can “tip the bartender” by rating and reviewing the podcast. Your review makes it easier for others to find the podcast. 

Don’t forget to hit the SUBSCRIBE button to be notified any time I pour out a new episode. 

My new book Intentional Intoxication: How To Deliberately Distill The Different Life You Desire, is available on Amazon. You can imbibe on the entire book in one, short, intentionally happier hour:

Intentional Intoxication Book

If you’re interested to know about how I can support you in overcoming the habit of escaping or chasing, I invite you to reach out to me by using the email below and we find a time to chat:

[email protected]

For a quick shot of your life’s current level of intoxication, I invite you to complete the 10 Questions on my Intoxication Inventory:

Intoxication Inventory

On tonight’s episode, we’ll discuss 10 more “gifts” a mother can give her adult children that cost nothing but create emotional spaciousness, safety, and connection. These acts of emotional generosity will help your relationship grow, breathe, and thrive.

The Best Gifts a Mother Can Give Her Adult Children (That Money Can’t Buy)

Offering warmth, humor, listening, and ease when you’re together — the kind of presence that makes them want to come back.

Being adaptable to schedules, changes, and realities — without pouting, withdrawing, or dramatizing.

Believing they can handle their lives.

Not needing frequent contact to feel connected.

A place where they can show up imperfectly without being evaluated, corrected, or advised.

So they don’t carry the weight of being your only source of belonging.

Showing them someone who is living authentically — aligned, honest, humble, grounded.

Letting your face light up when they walk into the room or call you — not with desperation, but with delight.

Releasing the fantasy child, the fantasy relationship, the fantasy closeness — and loving the real adult in front of you.

The simplest, hardest, and most beautiful gift:

If you know you could use some help as you navigate your connectioons to your adult children, you can schedule a complimentary coaching call with me in January, 2026. Here’s the link:

Coaching Call with Terri

Thank you for investing your valuable time and energy into listening to the podcast. I’m so very grateful for you. 

If you enjoyed this episode, you can “tip the bartender” by rating and reviewing the podcast. Your review makes it easier for others to find the podcast. 

Don’t forget to hit the SUBSCRIBE button to be notified any time I pour out a new episode. 

My new book Intentional Intoxication: How To Deliberately Distill The Different Life You Desire, is available on Amazon. You can imbibe on the entire book in one, short, intentionally happier hour:

Intentional Intoxication Book

If you’re interested to know about how I can support you in overcoming the habit of escaping or chasing, I invite you to reach out to me by using the email below and we find a time to chat:

[email protected]

For a quick shot of your life’s current level of intoxication, I invite you to complete the 10 Questions on my Intoxication Inventory:

Intoxication Inventory

On tonight’s episode, we’ll discuss “gifts” a mother can give her adult children that cost nothing but create emotional spaciousness, safety, and connection. These acts of emotional generosity will help your relationship grow, breathe, and thrive.

The Best Gifts a Mother Can Give Her Adult Children (That Money Can’t Buy)

A purposeful, engaged, meaningful life so they never feel responsible for your happiness.

Letting go of chronic complaining, negativity, or emotional heaviness so time with you feels nourishing, not draining.

Bringing new ideas, stories, perspectives, hobbies, or adventures to the table — not disguised advice, not commentary on their choices, but genuine aliveness.

Not depending on them as your primary social, emotional, or practical support system.

Being truly happy when they make plans with friends, partners, coworkers, or communities — without taking it personally.

Honoring the life they’re building, the choices they’re making, and the people they love.

Texts that are warm and simple.

Managing your own anxiety, triggers, expectations, and disappointments so they never feel like they have to soothe or stabilize you.

Letting them come and go without guilt, emotional punishment, or subtle manipulation.

Asking about their life from a place of curiosity, not wanting influence.

If you know you could use some help as you navigate your connectioons to your adult children, you can schedule a complimentary coaching call with me in January, 2026. Here’s the link:

Coaching Call with Terri

Thank you for investing your valuable time and energy into listening to the podcast. I’m so very grateful for you. 

If you enjoyed this episode, you can “tip the bartender” by rating and reviewing the podcast. Your review makes it easier for others to find the podcast. 

Don’t forget to hit the SUBSCRIBE button to be notified any time I pour out a new episode. 

My new book Intentional Intoxication: How To Deliberately Distill The Different Life You Desire, is available on Amazon. You can imbibe on the entire book in one, short, intentionally happier hour:

Intentional Intoxication Book

If you’re interested to know about how I can support you in overcoming the habit of escaping or chasing, I invite you to reach out to me by using the email below and we find a time to chat:

[email protected]

For a quick shot of your life’s current level of intoxication, I invite you to complete the 10 Questions on my Intoxication Inventory:

Intoxication Inventory

As the mother of adult children, it’s normal to experience challenges when they return for the holidays. Your new routines may be disrupted, your old roles may resurface, and both parents and children have expectations for the time spent together.

Here are a few questions for your consideration:

If you know you could use some help as you navigate your connections to your adult children, email me to schedule a complimentary happy hour call:.

[email protected]

Thank you for investing your valuable time and energy into listening to the podcast. I’m so very grateful for you. 

If you enjoyed this episode, you can “tip the bartender” by rating and reviewing the podcast. Your review makes it easier for others to find the podcast. 

Don’t forget to hit the SUBSCRIBE button to be notified any time I pour out a new episode. 

My new book Intentional Intoxication: How To Deliberately Distill The Different Life You Desire, is available on Amazon. You can imbibe on the entire book in one, short, intentionally happier hour:

Intentional Intoxication Book

If you’re interested to know about how I can support you in overcoming the habit of escaping or chasing, I invite you to reach out to me by using the email below and we find a time to chat:

[email protected]

For a quick shot of your life’s current level of intoxication, I invite you to complete the 10 Questions on my Intoxication Inventory:

Intoxication Inventory

As the mother of adult children, it’s normal to feel occasional sadness and worry. But when sadness becomes depression, and worry is a symptom of anxiety, it’s time to consider getting help. 

This episode helps you understand the difference between normal transitional feelings and signs that you may need additional support from a therapist or doctor.

Key Takeaways:

The empty nest is often described as a loss that comes without a funeral. There’s no ceremony, no community ritual, no structured grief process. Suddenly:

Your identity shifts

Your routine changes

Your purpose feels blurry

Your home feels different

And long-buried emotions have space to surface

A certain amount of sadness, nostalgia, and disorientation is part of the process. But depression is when those emotional dips become your emotional baseline.

You may be dealing with transitional sadness if you…

Have occasional tearfulness

Feel tender or nostalgic

Miss your old routines

Have lower motivation for a few days

Feel sad but still have moments of connection, laughter, or hope

You may be dealing with depression if you…

Wake up feeling hopeless more days than not

Notice a loss of interest in things you used to enjoy

Feel chronically tired or numb

Struggle to get basic tasks done

Experience changes in sleep or appetite

Feel like life has lost its color or meaning

If you’ve been feeling this way for two or more weeks—and it interferes with daily functioning—it’s time to reach out.

You may be dealing with normal anxiety if you…

Worry about your kids but can redirect yourself

Feel restless or overthink occasionally

Have days of feeling “off” but can still function

You may be dealing with anxiety that needs support if you…

Have constant rumination you can't shut off

Feel physically activated (tight chest, racing heart)

Catastrophize or spiral into worst-case scenarios

Avoid certain situations because of worry

Feel like your fear is running the show

Persistent anxiety is not a personality flaw—it’s a physiological and cognitive loop that often responds beautifully to therapy and, in some cases, medication.

Consider therapy or speaking with a doctor if:

Your symptoms have lasted 2+ weeks consistently

You’re not functioning like you normally do

You’re withdrawing socially

You’re having intrusive thoughts you can’t control

You feel like you’re “losing yourself” or emotionally drowning

Your anxiety feels constant, physical, or uncontrollable

Your world starts shrinking because you’re trying to manage your feelings

You’re using alcohol, food, or avoidance to cope

Better Help Counseling

If you know you could use some, email me to schedule a complimentary happy hour call:.

[email protected]

Thank you for investing your valuable time and energy into listening to the podcast. I’m so very grateful for you. 

If you enjoyed this episode, you can “tip the bartender” by rating and reviewing the podcast. Your review makes it easier for others to find the podcast. 

Don’t forget to hit the SUBSCRIBE button to be notified any time I pour out a new episode. 

My new book Intentional Intoxication: How To Deliberately Distill The Different Life You Desire, is available on Amazon. You can imbibe on the entire book in one, short, intentionally happier hour:

Intentional Intoxication Book

If you’re interested to know about how I can support you in overcoming the habit of escaping or chasing, I invite you to reach out to me by using the email below and we find a time to chat:

[email protected]

For a quick shot of your life’s current level of intoxication, I invite you to complete the 10 Questions on my Intoxication Inventory:

Intoxication Inventory

Key Takeaways

If you know you could use some support as you buld the happiness muscle in the empty nest stage, email me to schedule a complimentary happy hour call:.

[email protected]

Thank you for investing your valuable time and energy into listening to the podcast. I’m so very grateful for you. 

If you enjoyed this episode, you can “tip the bartender” by rating and reviewing the podcast. Your review makes it easier for others to find the podcast. 

Don’t forget to hit the SUBSCRIBE button to be notified any time I pour out a new episode. 

My new book Intentional Intoxication: How To Deliberately Distill The Different Life You Desire, is available on Amazon. You can imbibe on the entire book in one, short, intentionally happier hour:

Intentional Intoxication Book

If you’re interested to know about how I can support you in overcoming the habit of escaping or chasing, I invite you to reach out to me by using the email below and we find a time to chat:

[email protected]

For a quick shot of your life’s current level of intoxication, I invite you to complete the 10 Questions on my Intoxication Inventory:

Intoxication Inventory

Do you ever look around your quiet home and wonder, “What now?”

In this episode, we explore a powerful concept from Dan Sullivan’s book The Gap and the Gain - the idea that fulfillment comes from how far you’ve come, not how far you still have to go. When you shift from living in the gap (what’s missing) to the gain (what’s grown), you begin to see yourself — and your life — in a whole new light.

If you’re a former stay-at-home mom navigating the empty nest stage and craving a renewed sense of joy, purpose, and self-expression, this episode will help you find fulfillment not by doing more, but by seeing more of what’s already here.

1️. Understanding “The Gap”

2️. Shifting into “The Gain”

3️. Living from the Gain

“The way to measure your progress is backward against where you started, not against your ideal.”

“Being in the GAIN means you measure yourself backward, against where you were before. You measure your own progress. You don’t compare yourself to something external. You don’t measure yourself against your ideals.”

“If you focus on what you lack, you lose what you have. If you focus on what you have, you gain what you lack.”

“Your future growth and progress are now based in your understanding about the difference between the two ways in which you can measure yourself: against an ideal, which puts you in what I call ‘the GAP,’ and against your starting point, which puts you in ‘the GAIN,’ appreciating all that you’ve accomplished.”

You don’t have to reinvent yourself overnight. You just have to notice how far you’ve already come.

If you know you could use some support as you navigate both apathy and regret in the empty nest , email me to schedule a complimentary happy hour call:.

[email protected]

Thank you for investing your valuable time and energy into listening to the podcast. I’m so very grateful for you. 

If you enjoyed this episode, you can “tip the bartender” by rating and reviewing the podcast. Your review makes it easier for others to find the podcast. 

Don’t forget to hit the SUBSCRIBE button to be notified any time I pour out a new episode. 

My new book Intentional Intoxication: How To Deliberately Distill The Different Life You Desire, is available on Amazon. You can imbibe on the entire book in one, short, intentionally happier hour:

Intentional Intoxication Book

If you’re interested to know about how I can support you in overcoming the habit of escaping or chasing, I invite you to reach out to me by using the email below and we find a time to chat:

[email protected]

For a quick shot of your life’s current level of intoxication, I invite you to complete the 10 Questions on my Intoxication Inventory:

Intoxication Inventory

If you know you could use some support as you navigate both apathy and regret in the empty nest , email me to schedule a complimentary happy hour call:

[email protected]

Thank you for investing your valuable time and energy into listening to the podcast. I’m so very grateful for you. 

If you enjoyed this episode, you can “tip the bartender” by rating and reviewing the podcast. Your review makes it easier for others to find the podcast. 

Don’t forget to hit the SUBSCRIBE button to be notified any time I pour out a new episode. 

My new book Intentional Intoxication: How To Deliberately Distill The Different Life You Desire, is available on Amazon. You can imbibe on the entire book in one, short, intentionally happier hour:

Intentional Intoxication Book

If you’re interested to know about how I can support you in overcoming the habit of escaping or chasing, I invite you to reach out to me by using the email below and we find a time to chat:

[email protected]

For a quick shot of your life’s current level of intoxication, I invite you to complete the 10 Questions on my Intoxication Inventory:

Intoxication Inventory

In this episode, we unpack the quiet heaviness of apathy — that feeling of being flat, uninspired, or simply tired of caring. It’s not laziness or lack of motivation; it’s often your body and soul asking for rest. After decades of constant motion — raising kids, managing households, giving your all — apathy can surface when a major season ends. It’s the body’s way of saying, “I need to reset before I embrace the next season.”

Apathy often follows intense seasons of output — like your child’s senior year, college prep, or the emotional labor of letting go.

It’s a signal that your energy reserves are low, not that something’s wrong with you.

Explore which of the seven types of rest you’re craving most:

Physical — Deep sleep, movement, relaxation

Mental — Stepping away from constant decision-making

Sensory — Reducing screen time, noise, and overstimulation

Emotional — Allowing yourself to feel instead of performing

Social — Spending time with people who replenish, not drain

Creative — Seeking beauty and inspiration

Spiritual — Reconnecting with meaning, purpose, or stillness

When you nourish the type of rest you’ve been missing, energy and clarity naturally return.

“Of course I’m not broken — I’m exhausted from the last season and in-between seasons right now.”

“It makes sense that I’m apathetic — I really need rest.”

You may even be thinking, “Why bother?” That’s your cue to pause and listen with compassion.

What feels meaningless right now?

What used to light you up that’s feeling a little dim?

Where have you been overgiving or overpouring your energy?

Where have you been drained lately?

What allows you to feel just a bit more awake or alive?

Which form of rest have you been neglecting? What would one small act of restoration look like today?

Detach from producing or outcomes and focus on what you’re feeling or experiencing.

Focus on what feels restful or soothing.

Focus on what helps you feel awake or alive — even in small ways.

If you know you could use some support as you navigate apathy in the empty nest , email me to schedule a complimentary happy hour call:

[email protected]

Thank you for investing your valuable time and energy into listening to the podcast. I’m so very grateful for you. 

If you enjoyed this episode, you can “tip the bartender” by rating and reviewing the podcast. Your review makes it easier for others to find the podcast. 

Don’t forget to hit the SUBSCRIBE button to be notified any time I pour out a new episode. 

My new book Intentional Intoxication: How To Deliberately Distill The Different Life You Desire, is available on Amazon. You can imbibe on the entire book in one, short, intentionally happier hour:

Intentional Intoxication Book

If you’re interested to know about how I can support you in overcoming the habit of escaping or chasing, I invite you to reach out to me by using the email below and we find a time to chat:

[email protected]

For a quick shot of your life’s current level of intoxication, I invite you to complete the 10 Questions on my Intoxication Inventory:

Intoxication Inventory