Preparing Our Kids (and Ourselves) as They Leave the Nest, with Christina Geist

Preparing Our Kids (and Ourselves) as They Leave the Nest, with Christina Geist

From What Fresh Hell: Parenting, Relationships, and Making Life Better, with Two Funny Moms by Margaret Ables and Amy Wilson

April 10, 2026 · 42 min

About this episode

Christina Geist discusses preparing children for college and the emotional journey parents face during this transition.

As kids prepare to leave home for college, we tend to wonder: have we taught them everything they need to know? Christina Geist—author of Before You Fly Away: Life Lessons from Home—shares how this transition can feel like a “parental report card.” Christina's late-night reflections and “mini panic moments" as her child prepared to leave for college became a collection of concise life lessons meant to guide her child toward independence. But the process also turned out to provide a way for Christina to process her own fears and hopes. Parents often harbor fear that things won’t go perfectly once kids leave home. Christina acknowledges that college—and life—will include mistakes, loneliness, and challenges. But those “blind spots” are actually essential. Growth happens when kids figure things out on their own, whether it’s resolving roommate conflicts or navigating new responsibilities. As Christina puts it: “Figure it out. You’re 100% capable.” Here's where you can find Christina: www.christinageist.com Buy BEFORE YOU FLY AWAY: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9798881612023 What Fresh Hell is co-hosted by Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables. We love the sponsors that make this show…

People in this episode

Hosts: Margaret Ables, Amy Wilson

Guest: Christina Geist

Topics covered

  • parenting
  • college transition
  • independence
  • life lessons
  • parental fears

Keywords

  • college preparation
  • parenting tips
  • life lessons
  • independence
  • parental fears

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: What Fresh Hell, bookshop.org

Books & works: Before You Fly Away: Life Lessons from Home

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