Life after the kids move out: How to cope with the emotional challenges of an empty nest
Update: 2025-10-22
Description
The moment your last or only child leaves home can feel like both an ending and a beginning.
Some parents celebrate the new freedom. Others struggle with the sudden quiet. Most experience a bit of both.
MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with a psychologist and a social worker about the emotional mix of pride, grief, and rediscovery that comes with an empty nest — and how to find balance and meaning in this new stage of life.
Guests:
- Melissa Lundquist is an associate professor in the School of Social Work and director of the undergraduate social work program at the University of St. Thomas.
- David Nathan is a psychologist with Allina Health in St. Paul.
Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
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