Why don't we start with you telling us how
the two of you came together to
write your book: Barbara and Susan's Guide
to the Empty Nest?
After my youngest
went to college in the fall of ’03, I was
at a conference with Susan who was five
years ahead of me in this journey, and I
asked her, “Tell me what you’ve learned
about the Empty Nest?” I followed that
question with another, “I have no idea how
to navigate this transition, what would
you suggest?”
Susan had few, if
any, answers. I asked several other women
ahead of me in this journey and their
responses were the same as Susan’s. None
of us knew how to “do” the Empty Nest.
That’s when Susan and I realized we
weren’t alone in our feelings. So we
decided to find the answers and share what
we learned in a book.
What do you hope to convey to other Empty
Nest Moms out there to help them
get through this phase of their lives?
First, we want to
encourage them that what they are feeling
is normal and they are not alone; it is an
awkward transition. It isn’t easy to
renegotiate your relationships with your
children and your husband. It’s a new
beginning in many ways and we need to be
intentional in how we approach this new
season.
Secondly, we want to help women discover
what their strengths and talents are and
to find ways to use their lives for a
great purpose in the second half of life.
We women have learned many skills in our
years of parenting that can be used to
benefit countless others. The question
is, where and how. Our goal is to help
women discover that new purpose through
our book and as we interact with readers
on our community page and blog.
