What’s the secret to empty nesting?

Find fun girlfriends.

Last week, my gal-pals and I went bowling for Galentine’s Day, our silly matching shirts making us look like a team.

Which, in a way, we are.

We’ve been together since 2021, meeting up every month. Somewhere along the way they became part of the rhythm of my life. They brought laughter into spaces that once held carpools, schedules, and constant motion.

Another group of girlfriends are learning to play mahjong. When we gather, it feels easy. Familiar. They just get you.

I have a group of old football mommas I meet with every couple of months. They knew me when my identity was wrapped in bleachers, snack bars, and fundraising. They witnessed the years when motherhood was loud, consuming, and beautifully exhausting.

Then there are the Crafters. We get together every couple of months to make some small decoration. It’s never really about the finished product but rather about sitting around a table and staying connected while life keeps moving.

And don’t get me started on The Curds… a tribe that formed when my 27-year-old was in preschool. Our group chats alone could qualify as therapy. They have witnessed every version of me. The overwhelmed young mom. The tired middle years. And now, this new version, still unfolding.

Why are groups of girlfriends so important, especially when we’re empty nesting?

Because they help hold the pieces of you that parenting once filled.

When our kids grow up, their world expands. Ours does too. But expansion can feel a lot like emptiness at first.

And that’s when friendship becomes oxygen.

As a therapist, I see this all the time. Connection is a lifeline during transitions.

But as a mom, I feel it firsthand.

These women remind you that you are still fun. Still relevant. Still becoming.

They give you places to put your laughter. Your stories. Your worries. Your evolving identity.

They remember who you’ve been and make space for who you’re becoming.

Because empty nesting isn’t really about losing something. It’s about returning to parts of yourself that were patiently waiting.

So find your people.

The ones who will wear silly shirts.
The ones who will celebrate you.
The ones who will answer the group text at 10:37 pm.

Because while our children were growing up, so were we.

Motherhood shifts, but we don’t disappear.

We expand.

And the right girlfriends don’t let you feel empty.

They remind you that this chapter isn’t the end of something.

It’s the beginning of you again.
💛💛💛