Friends, we did it. We officially dropped our daughter off at college. I thought I had braced myself for this moment. (After all, I’ve been thinking about it since before she was born. More on that in the podcast.) But nothing really prepares you for the first time you have to buy one less airplane ticket, or you keep thinking she’s home because her car is in the driveway. (Ok, I might cry again… standby.)
The week leading up to drop-off I kept us all busy. There was packing, prepping, and so many spreadsheets. The actual goodbye itself was gut-wrenching. I may have worn my sunglasses the entire day. Then the days after, I pretty much “took to the bed” as my Southern friends say. Now we are in a new rhythm of life.
This new chapter is bittersweet. On one hand, I’m so proud of the strong, independent young woman we have raised. On the other hand, my mama heart feels like it’s been cracked open. So, we’ve been distracting ourselves until we settle into the new normal. Here is what is helping us:
5 Distractions For Empty-Nest Life
1. Watch Something Funny (on Purpose)
I saved the new Leanne Morgan sitcom on Netflix until after drop-off because I knew I’d need a pick-me-up. It was like cotton candy for my brain—light, silly, and exactly what I needed after ugly crying in my car. Sometimes you just need to laugh at something that has nothing to do with college dorms or command strips. We’ve also been loving Game Changer on Dropout TV.
2. Play A Stupid Game We Can’t Stop Losing
Have you heard of the game, Murdle? It’s like Clue, but faster, and you can play with three people (which is perfect since our son is still at home). The best part? Penn cannot win this game to save his life (and if you know Penn… that’s saying something.) Watching him lose repeatedly has been my favorite little joy.
3. Speak In Another Love Language (Football Stats)
With our daughter gone, I’ve found myself leaning into our son’s world more. His love language? Football statistics. So yes, I’ve been watching quarterback documentaries and learning about Joe Burrow (or as I called him, “Justin Burrow”—close enough, right?). It’s been a surprisingly sweet way to connect with him, even if I’m still asking way too many questions at dinner.
4. Take A Dance Class (with Your Husband)
I’ve been obsessed with dance classes lately—they’re fun, they’re sweaty, and they keep me from wallowing too much. Penn even joined me once, and let’s just say his “pelvic warm-up” was a sight to behold. These classes are as much therapy as they are exercise, and they remind me that joy still fits in the middle of all these big feelings.
5. Focus Your Attention on Your Other Child
Bless our son’s heart, but with his sister gone he’s now the firehose recipient of ALL our parenting energy. Suddenly I’m noticing whether his hair has product in it, what he ate for lunch, and who he sat with at school. He’s thrilled, as you can imagine (insert eye roll here). But honestly, I’m grateful we still have one at home to smother with questions.
We See You
If you’re in the middle of a big life transition (empty nesting, moving, job change, you name it), maybe make your own Top 5 list of small, silly things that bring you comfort. They won’t erase the hard stuff, but they’ll give you a place to rest and laugh in the middle of it.
And if you want to hear the full story (including how cookie cake became my coping mechanism), you can listen to the episode here:
