In August, I dropped my daughter off at college. And then I came home to a very quiet house.
For years, my days had a soundtrack. There were lesson plans spread across the table, Disney Junior playing in the background, and a lasagna in the oven big enough to feed a family of four. Now it’s just my husband and me, taking turns making small dinners for two and cozying up with our favorite Netflix shows after work.
It’s a trade. I miss my kids at home. But I’ve also been surprised by something I didn’t expect.
When we talk about the empty nest, we usually talk about letting go, and that part is real. But there’s another side to this season we don’t talk about nearly enough: What might I discover now?
For me, so far, discovery has looked wonderfully ordinary. I’m reading more books than I have in years (hello, rom-coms!), walking a few miles a day, and joining a choir on a whim. I even packed myself a solo picnic at Alamo Square to watch the Painted Ladies in the San Francisco fog. These are small things, but they’ve reminded me that my identity isn’t being replaced. It’s expanding.
And this isn’t only for empty nesters. Whether you’re holding a newborn, chasing toddlers, or learning how to parent a teenager, every season of motherhood asks us to get reacquainted with ourselves.
In this episode of the Christian Moms Café podcast, I’m sharing what my first month in this new season has taught me about identity, faith, and giving ourselves permission to be curious about who we’re becoming.
Maybe you’re not lost, friend. Maybe you’re becoming.
🎧 [Listen to the full episode here →]
