The Girlfriend's Guide to an Empty Nest

Today we are sharing our thoughts on how our parents raised us and how that influenced how our generation then raised kids in a “hovering” fashion.  Becky also shares her concerns about her daughter moving home for the summer and Anne shares her experience with this with her own kids. For any girlfriends in this boat of kids temporarily moving home, we pray this one is so encouraging and empowerin...

No brothers? No sons? No problem! :)  For those girlfriends who want to better understand raising boys or how to interact with/encourage the boys in their lives (sons-in-law, boyfriends of your daughters etc.), this episode is for you!  We share today about: Anne’s experience raising a son vs raising her daughters Helping your kids navigate online dating  A funny story of Anne standing up for her...

There is a different tone in homes when laughter is easy, jokes are made more often and when your spouse is actually enjoyable to be around and not weekly getting a case of the Sunday Scaries (you know, dreading the upcoming work week). So today we pose the question: what can we do to set a joyful atmosphere in our homes as wives and moms? This episode is all about intentionality. Taking action to...

Today is an episode for all the mama bears out there who just want to swoop in and fix things for their kids. It is such a HARD thing when your cub is grown and now you are required to play a supportive role, not a fix it role.  We chat today: The importance of life’s trials being allowed to be a teacher Encouraging vs fixing Thoughts on how hardships in life shapes you (and your kids) The natural...

Today we are navigating a tough topic: what to do when your grown children are struggling. It is SO hard on a mama’s heart when situations arise that you can’t practically do anything to fix, other than letting them know you are there to listen and sympathize.  Today we chat about: Reflections of our own childhoods Our own parent’s style for parenting vs our own styles How to to give our imperfect...

Today we are chiming in on how to take care of ourselves. Please note, taking care of yourself doesn’t just mean exercise or eating nourishing meals. It also means learning how to be resilient to peer pressure to do something a certain way, like those around you are. We also share about caring for our future self by caring for our current selves physically and emotionally. We’ll be chatting today...

The day has finally arrived …. Our hubbies borrow our microphones and host the show for a special episode! Get ready for some jokes but also some great male insights to the Empty Nesting season. You’ll hear new information from stories already shared on this podcast, all from Rick and Chad telling THEIR experience of these moments. They may or may not also make a few jabs at Anne and Becky : ) To...

Tune in today to hear about some exciting things coming to the show! Think HUSBANDS! You’ll also hear on today’s episode how to practically transition into your new roles in the Empty Nest season and we also share a fun BAD challenge to join us in this year! Today we also chat about: Expert Adults vs Baby Adults The sweetest listener review from a military mama A refreshing way to look at being in...

Today is a suuuuppper fun episode for the girlfriends listening. We have a very special guest on … Clara, Becky’s oldest daughter! You’ll hear in our conversation all things leaving the nest, starting college, building new relationships and learning to “adult”, all from a daughter’s perspective. We know this episode will bless you. Clara gives such insightful wisdom and encouragement for moms and...

Today we are chatting about going a little rouge/counter culture and letting yourself not set goals in 2026. Yes, there is a time and place for that but sometimes goals can limit us, box us in, put distracting pressure on ourselves. And as Empty Nesters (especially that first year), it can be so good to learn to just BE and not DO. Trying to figure out who you are apart from your kids is a very ha...

Today we are chatting with the girlfriends about a fun topic today: family traditions. It can be so surprising when your kids let you know they loved certain traditions growing up, yet you didn’t even realize it was something you did for your kids on routine.  We chat today: The thing we did with our kids that they consider a tradition vs how we saw it as moms Why it feels like a gold star when yo...

Today we start things off with Anne flooding Becky with buckets of genuine compliments. Becky honestly shares that it was hard to receive said affirmation! Sounds familiar? Today we are digging into why it’s so dang hard to just say “thank you” when people speak life over you. And more importantly, how to practically grow in this area. More in today’s conversation: Anne sharing a cute story of how...

From sugar habits, continuing grief after the kids leave, to finding blessings in every season with your kids, this episode has sooo much jammed into it. It will give ya some laughter, some advice about doubting your mothering skills, a quote that rocked Anne’s world about perfectionism and everything in between. We chat today: Looking for the joy and inspiration where you are How we need to encou...

Today we are checking in on Becky, her thoughts and feelings after The First Visit of her kiddo coming home for the first time after moving away for college. This is a VERY emotional time for moms (and kids) and Becky is sharing the things she wishes she would have done to care for her heart and things that are now working better. This episode in the last half reads a little like a big sister hear...

How do you feel about your body as you age? Loaded question, we know! Today we are talking about body image as you age. Level 5 (turning 50) can bring up a whole host of feelings and today we are sharing our thoughts and experiences with aging. Remember, what works for one woman to feel confident in her current body will look different for another.  You’ll hear today: NOT should you or should you...

Today’s episode will start with a big time giggle on the expense of Anne. She’s sharing what can happen when you aren’t aware of current lingo and then she and Becky discuss the deep questions those embarrassing moments can bring up. The reflection, the wondering of things like, “Who is paying attention to me? Am I okay with being irrelevant?” You’ll hear today: The wrestling that comes with once...

That thing that was once waaaayyy in the future has come and gone now for Becky: dropping her oldest off at college. It’s hard. It’s weird. It’s abrupt. It’s hopeful. It’s rewarding. And everything in between. Today we are chatting about redefining your role as a mother and your relationship with kids as they get older and enter new life seasons. There definitely are wise and not so wise ways to d...

Back to school season is in full swing right now. New school supplies, check. New teachers, check. Fresh starts for kids AND moms? Also check! Today we are diving into the pros and cons of summer vs the regular school year. Each time of year brings a different set of challenges for moms but also unique blessings! You'll also find inspo in this conversation and practical ideas to help you disco...

Today is a unique style episode: we recorded this in real time for you! We thought it would be insightful to interview Becky on how it’s feeling IN THE THICK OF THINGS. Sometimes with the passing of time, our recollections of events and attached emotions can dim …  so why not check in while the hard thing is happening? This special and emotional episode (grab the tissues!) reads sorta like a couns...

Today is the episode about finances. Oooohhh, yes. We are going there. How to think about spending money on yourself. It goes much deeper than buying new things but uprooting thoughts about not being worthy of being invested in. We talk today: How we turn around and take money and time that was once spent on our kids and now being okay with spending it on ourselves Something Anne looks back on, wi...

Though we really wanna, it’s not helpful to our children when we try to rescue them all the time. So much learning comes from them taking responsibility for the consequences of their choices. So much growing into the person they need to be, who are okay and successful without us. Today we chat about: A funny story where Anne admits she was wrong in advice she gave to her adult kid (all our cat lov...

Today we have our first guest episode … wooo who! Author Kate Battistelli (yes, Francesca’s mom!) joins us to talk about her book The After Party of the Empty Nest . As her website says, “As you begin your empty nest, you’re not only leaving your child behind, but the life you knew so well.” And that our friends, is why this season is so darn hard at times. It makes sense why we feel like a fish o...

It’s that time of year where some are a little antsy for summer to come and school to be over. But that’s not the case for everyone in the family: mom can be dreading the buffer summer between college days beginning.  Check out today’s conversation to hear how our thoughts on the “time bomb ticking” of things never being the same again. We chat today: The desire to smother your kid as the end of t...

New decade, new milestone. It comes with birthday cake and parties but also sometimes comes with imposter syndrome. “Am I too old to be relevant in my industry?!” What happens when you don’t feel like the “cool old woman” anymore but just the “old looking woman?” Today we chat about: Struggling with aging and looking older Things we personally invest in to feel more confident in our appearance Hav...

We hear alllll the time about the importance of dating your spouse but dating your kids is actually just as key! If you desire to foster a relationship with your kids so that when they are grown they still willingly seek you out for comfort and advice, this episode is for you, friend. Tune in to hear about: What it looks like to date your kids Two environments that often make kids open up for hear...