Empty Nest: The Grief No One Warned Me About

Empty Nest: The Grief No One Warned Me About

From How It's Really Going at 50 with Shana Recker by Shana Recker

December 11, 2025 · 20 min · Season 7

About this episode

Shana Recker discusses the emotional complexities of the empty nest phase of parenthood, including grief, joy, and identity challenges during perimenopause.

I’m talking about the part of parenthood no one really prepares you for — when your kids grow up, move out, and start their own lives… and you’re left holding all the feelings. Yes, there’s freedom. Yes, there’s excitement. But there’s also grief — and if you’re going through it too, you’re not crazy. It’s a lot , especially when it hits during perimenopause (hello, identity crisis on top of it all 🙃). In this episode: Why it feels like they disappear overnight The guilt, joy, and sadness that all coexist How I’m navigating this new chapter And why those “goodnight mom ❤️” texts mean more than ever If you're in this stage too, I see you. And if you’re not there yet, this is your gentle reminder to soak up the messy, loud, chaotic now — because one day, you’ll miss it. Thank you all so much for listening! It genuinely means a lot to know that my journey, and what I’m learning along the way, helps you too. If this episode resonated, feel free to reach out and share anytime on Instagram: @iamshanarecker My Amazon Shop:   https://amzn.to/42hix1c To connect with me for done-for-you services like branding, Kajabi websites, lead magnets, or more, visit: www.shanarecker.com and…

People in this episode

Host: Shana Recker

Topics covered

  • empty nest
  • parenthood
  • grief
  • identity crisis
  • perimenopause
  • freedom
  • emotional journey

Keywords

  • empty nest
  • grief
  • parenthood
  • perimenopause
  • identity crisis
  • freedom
  • emotional journey

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Amazon, Kajabi, www.shanarecker.com

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