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In this episode of Teenagers Untangled, we’re talking about what happens when the children we’ve poured our hearts, time, and energy into finally leave home. If you’re facing the prospect of a child heading off to university or moving out—and feeling anything from pride and excitement to grief, anxiety, or a loss of identity—this episode is for you.

First, I revisit a powerful conversation with mindfulness coach Susie Asli, where we unpack empty nest syndrome:

why feelings of grief, loneliness, or even physical symptoms like sleeplessness and nausea are a normal response,
how your identity as a parent can feel shaken when your child leaves,
and practical ways to prepare yourself emotionally, rebuild routines, and reconnect—with yourself, with your partner, and with your wider life.

Then I speak with Hannah Bankier, a coach specialising in personal and professional transitions and founder of Birdie Launcher. Hannah invites us to rethink the very idea of an “empty nest” and instead see this stage as a launchpad—for our children and for ourselves. She shares:

how to start preparing years before your child leaves,
how to evolve your parenting from “controller” to “mentor,”
how to co-create a new kind of relationship with your emerging adult,
and how to rediscover your own purpose, joy, and identity beyond being “Mum.”

You're not broken if you're feeling grief. You're ready to start a new chapter.

Hannah Bankier

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Empty Nest: How to Cope When Your Teen Goes off to College or University

Parenting Teenagers Untangled

Empty Nest: How to Cope When Your Teen Goes off to College or University