10/08/2026
What happens when your child leaves home and the role that shaped so much of your daily life suddenly changes? Discover Marianne Van Oyen's article titled “Five Phases of the Empty Nest Syndrome”, which explores the emotional complexity of this major life transition, from grief, loneliness and identity shifts to acceptance, self-compassion, and rediscovering purpose. The article offers a thoughtful look at how parents can navigate the silence, process difficult emotions and begin creating a meaningful new chapter while maintaining a changing relationship with their adult children.
Written by Marianne Van Oyen, Psychologist and Author
The empty nest syndrome is exactly that! It is a heart-wrenching and soul-sucking experience. I know because I have lived through it, and I am surviving the side effects. I have heard this term for decades...