The Girlfriend's Guide to an Empty Nest

The choice to look at change as a possibility and “what do I GET to do next?” 

Different avenues Anne headed down once her kids went off to college 

Advice for helping kids know what to do after high school (there is a special wording you’ll want to borrow!)

Why we think it’s okay to change in interests, hobbies, skills, jobs etc.

The power of humor in the church

How God confirmed a calling of Anne’s through a famous Christian Bible teacher!

The wisdom of looking for patterns in your long-term core passions when trying to figure out what is next for you

Advice that’s good for your kids and YOU (ahem, try new things!)

What goes through a mom’s mind when senior pictures are taken

Feedback from our hubby’s about the show!

The joy and weirdness of not having to think about buying school supplies anymore

Dealing with the mixed emotion of pride and sadness at the thought of your child leaving

Our thoughts about chapters and seasons ending

The reality of anxiety, panic or seeing possibility when it comes to what’s next for mom

When your child goes to a college 6 hours away

Advice for soaking in their last year of high school, even amongst the bitter sweetness

How the timing of menopause and your kids leaving home can often happen at the same time, making things feel even harder

Why we should be talking about our changing brains and bodies more openly

The dismissal that doctors can often give you, making you feel a little crazy at this time

Tips for advocating for yourself at this stage of life

A powerful tale of two brothers

The wisdom of spending money on your health

How to handle the judgy people in our lives who give their unsolicited thought about how we parent

What grocery store item can cause the downward spiral of self criticism as a woman and as a mom

Becky’s crazy story of dealing with Mommy Wars

The power in allowing your kids to make confident decisions

What Pre-Shame and how it impacts decision making for our children

How brave it is to keep to your personal convictions 

The impact on Mommy Wars that social media has had

How husbands and wives handle kids leaving differently and how to cope with this difference

Ways to reconnect with your spouse

Things to chat about when the kids are no longer the main thing your conversations surround 

Digging into the “Case of the Capable” and what that does to marriages 

Being intentional in needing each other (like letting HIM kill the spiders!)

The way dreaming together can bring you together

What Senioritis is (and how it shows up in our kid’s attitudes and ours) 

The power of just letting yourself be sad about all the “lasts”

A preview of your senior year with your kids can be found in having a newborn

Wisdom for navigating the beautiful and hard parts of senior year

Advice for uniquely parenting your kids last year of high school

Encouragement and real life stories about letting your kids make decisions in order to learn from their mistakes

How we are made for relationships and how dogs (or any pet) fits into that need

Ways to build into relationships once your kids are out of the house

The unexpected ways to channel your mom energy (besides on your fur baby)

Why you need to give yourself permission to be bad at new hobbies

How our seasons can be measured by the food that is being served in your home

What the Drop it and Do it Mindset is

The power of discerning from God how to intentionally spend your time with your kids during their last years at home

The challenges and frustrations of grieving differently than those around you

What you should NEVER tell someone in the midst of grieving

The illogical side of grief

The dangers of shutting down the process of grieving

The hard part of being good at being a successful mom

The weird side of our world that says we shouldn’t display emotions that make others uncomfortable

Pre-grief is a thing! You can start to grieve your kiddo leaving, even before they graduate high school

Our thoughts on being friends with your kids

How men and women are different when it comes to all the “lasts” with your kids in high school

A small but profound line in the Bible about Mary the mother of Jesus that shows us it’s Biblical to mark memories down

Things to look forward to once your kiddos leave the nest

Why bumping heads with senior kids could be a good sign, something to make empty nesting an easier transition 

The wisdom of expecting an emotional rollercoaster at times in this season (grief they are gone AND excited for when they will leave when they visit!)

Why it’s healthy and important to let yourself grieve your kids leaving

The things Anne really enjoys about having adult kids outside of her home (there is good stuff to look forward to after they leave!)

Profound parenting tips that have blessed us so much (like why you need to let your kids get to know your preferences)

Hilarious stories about our husbands and kids!

Future episode topics to come

Anne’s encouragement to Becky as she prepares to have college aged kids and Anne’s plans to start putting herself first (maybe some higher scale shopping perhaps?!)