The Girlfriend's Guide to an Empty Nest

Actively raising children is a BIG job. And once they are no longer living under your roof, it takes some intentional thought to redefine your new role in their life and learn to restructure your days and life now that your kids are out of the house. But finding meaning and purpose beyond being a caregiver is very much so possible and we pray this episode inspires you to see all the amazing possibilities! 

Today we share about:

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

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

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

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

5. The power of humor in the church

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

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

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

Get in Touch With us!⁠⁠

Connect with Anne:

Website

⁠Swayology Business podcast⁠

Instagram

Connect with Becky:

Website⁠

⁠Her books⁠

The Inspired Business podcast

We have heard from listeners that sometimes rather than grief, it’s a worry that mother’s deal deeply with when the empty nesting season looms. How will my kids do once they leave? Will they be okay growing into adulthood? If that resonates with the narrative in your own head, please take a listen to this episode. We pray it brings you encouragement and a little laughter, too!

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

2. Feedback from our hubby’s about the show!

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

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

5. Our thoughts about chapters and seasons ending

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

7. When your child goes to a college 6 hours away

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

⁠Get in Touch With us!⁠⁠

Connect with Anne:

Website

⁠Swayology Business podcast⁠

Instagram

Connect with Becky:

Website⁠

⁠Her books⁠

The Inspired Business podcast

Yup, we are going there today. Girlfriends, we are digging into the ins and outs of menopause. If you don’t have someone in your life to chat about the “ugly” stuff, we would gladly be that friend for you. We hope this episode leaves you feeling a little more prepared about women’s health!

In today’s episode:

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

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

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

4. Tips for advocating for yourself at this stage of life

5. A powerful tale of two brothers

6. The wisdom of spending money on your health

Link to the Coffee (not an affiliate!)

⁠Get in Touch With us!⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Anne:

Website

⁠Swayology Business podcast⁠

Instagram

Connect with Becky:

Website⁠

⁠Her books⁠

The Inspired Business podcast

Mommy Wars … it’s a real thing. And it doesn’t stop once your kids fly the coop. People will continue to give you opinions on how you think you should parent your adult children too.

On this episode we dig into:

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

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

3. Becky’s crazy story of dealing with Mommy Wars

4. The power in allowing your kids to make confident decisions

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

6. How brave it is to keep to your personal convictions 

7. The impact on Mommy Wars that social media has had

⁠Get in Touch With us!⁠⁠

Connect with Anne:

Website

⁠Swayology Business podcast⁠

Instagram

Connect with Becky:

Website⁠

⁠Her books⁠

The Inspired Business podcast

We are talking about our marriages with some REAL TALK today. Sometimes we wish our husbands didn’t live with us AND we love ‘em so much. God has created us to feel more than one thing at once, what a gift!

Today we are chatting about: 

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

2. Ways to reconnect with your spouse

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

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

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

6. The way dreaming together can bring you together

⁠Get in Touch With us!⁠⁠

Connect with Anne:

Website

⁠Swayology Business podcast⁠

Instagram

Connect with Becky:

Website⁠

⁠Her books⁠

The Inspired Business podcast

All the “lasts” can add up in that final year of having a child living under your roof. Counting down a whole season of “lasts” can be HARD. Today we are sharing how we can best set ourselves up to enjoy this last year.

You’ll hear in this episode:

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

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

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

4. Wisdom for navigating the beautiful and hard parts of senior year

5. Advice for uniquely parenting your kids last year of high school

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

⁠Get in Touch With us!⁠⁠

Connect with Anne:

Website

⁠Swayology Business podcast⁠

Instagram

Connect with Becky:

Website⁠

⁠Her books⁠

The Inspired Business podcast

Any dog mamas out there? As mothers, we need to channel that mom energy to something. We were made to nurture! When there is no one at home to parent anymore, sometimes a pet is just what you need.

In this episode we are chatting about:

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

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

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

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

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

6. What the Drop it and Do it Mindset is

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

   
   

⁠Get in Touch With us!⁠⁠

Connect with Anne:

Website

⁠Swayology Business podcast⁠

Instagram

Connect with Becky:

Website⁠

⁠Her books⁠

The Inspired Business podcast

Join us for a conversation about grief. We won’t be shaming you ONE bit for feeling all the feels. Nope, over here, we believe that grief comes from the ending of something beautiful which is worth celebrating!

Today we discuss:

1. The challenges and frustrations of grieving differently than those around you

2. What you should NEVER tell someone in the midst of grieving

3. The illogical side of grief

4. The dangers of shutting down the process of grieving

5. The hard part of being good at being a successful mom

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

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

Get in Touch With us!⁠⁠

Connect with Anne:

Website

⁠Swayology Business podcast⁠

Instagram

Connect with Becky:

Website⁠

⁠Her books⁠

The Inspired Business podcast

Today we are comparing our current journeys with empty nesting. One of us sees the empty nest through the windshield, the other one can see it in the rearview mirror.

Thanks for hanging out with us today, it’s an honor to share with you our different experiences, and we pray you leave encouraged about this topic that is close to both our hearts. 

You’ll hear us share today:

1. Our thoughts on being friends with your kids

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

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

4. Things to look forward to once your kiddos leave the nest

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

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

⁠Get in Touch With us!⁠⁠

Connect with Anne:

Website

Swayology Business podcast

Instagram

Connect with Becky:

Website⁠

⁠Her books⁠

The Inspired Business podcast

Welcome to our very first episode! We pray your time with us (Hi! It’s Anne & Becky!) is filled with laughter, encouragement and so much inspiration. 

When we discovered people just weren’t talking about the grief and challenges of having your kids leave your home, we decided to become that much needed resource ourselves. 

In this premiere episode we share about:

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

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

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

4. Hilarious stories about our husbands and kids!

5. Future episode topics to come

6. 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?!)

   
   

Get in Touch With us!⁠⁠

Connect with Anne:

Website⁠Swayology Business podcast⁠

Instagram

Connect with Becky:

Website⁠

⁠Her books⁠

The Inspired Business podcast