The Wide Open Nest

395 days.

That is the exact countdown until my husband, Jason, and I officially become empty nesters.

For 21 of the 26 years, we’ve been together, over 80% of our relationship, our lives have been beautifully, wildly, and completely wrapped up in raising our three boys. Sure, Jason and I have always prioritized date nights and staying connected, but our calendar was never really ours. It belonged to baseball diamonds, soccer pitches, track meets, golf courses, choir and orchestra concerts, musicals, and proms. Our house has been filled with noisy poker nights, family dinners, hometown festivals, and a revolving door of our sons and their friends.

When our oldest turned 21 and moved out last year, the house got a little quieter, the grocery bill got a little smaller, and our focus shifted. In just one week, those twin boys turn 18 and head into their senior year of high school. I am elated for them, this year is going to be unforgettable. They’ll be living their best lives, while I quietly begin the bittersweet transition of stepping back from the very center of theirs.

For over two decades, we’ve had a front-row seat to their lives. But as we enter this final year of high school activities, I know a massive shift is waiting for us on the other side.

And to be honest, a deeply personal loss this past year opened my eyes to just how big that shift really is.

The Moment Everything Changed

Last year, I lost my dad. He and my mom had been married for 68 incredible years, and toward the end of his life, my mom was his primary caregiver as he battled Parkinson’s. After he passed, as we were helping my mom transition into an assisted living community, I tried to encourage her by asking what passions or hobbies she was excited to pursue next.

She looked at me with complete honesty and said, “I have no idea. I don’t know who I am without your dad. I don’t know what I like, and I don’t know what I want to do.”

At first, I was stunned. My mom is a person with so many interests. But as her words settled in, I realized I was standing on the threshold of a very similar feeling.

Of course, I’m not losing my boys forever, nor in the same way. But I am releasing them into the world. Jason and I have spent 21 years preparing them for this exact moment. They are ready, excited, and equipped to build their own futures, and I want nothing less for them. I would never hold them back.

But her words left me asking the hard, quiet questions:

• Who am I when my boys no longer need me in a daily, hands-on way?
• What do I actually enjoy doing with my free time?
• What is next for me?

Why “Empty” Just Didn’t Fit

Fortunately, Jason and I have an incredible partnership. We’re a great team, we love spending time together, and we’re always up for trying new things. But as we look ahead, we know we have work to do. We need to actively figure out who we are in this new season and where we want to direct our energy.

That’s how The Wide Open Nest was born.

The term “empty nesting” has always felt so hollow and negative to me. Our house might end up quiet, but our lives are far from empty. Our future isn’t shrinking, it’s expanding. It is wide open, just like the futures awaiting our boys.

What We’re Building Here

The Wide Open Nest isn’t just a blog; it’s our space to document this transition in real time. We aren’t waiting for the last box to be packed to start living our next chapter, we’re starting right now.

Here’s what you can expect as we explore this new world together:

• Fresh Adventures: Following along as Jason and I test out new hobbies, travel, and find our new rhythm as a couple.
• Community & Wisdom: Interviews and insights from other empty nesters who have successfully navigated this transition.
• Practical Tips & Honest Reflections: Real-talk advice on navigating senior year, stepping back with grace, and finding joy in the process.

Whether you’re years away from an empty nest, right in the thick of senior year chaos like me or sitting in a quiet house wondering “what’s next?” you are so welcome here.

Our nests aren’t empty. They’re wide open. Let’s figure out what’s next, together.