When children eventually fly the nest, it can be a challenging time for parents. Whether sons and daughters are heading off to university, travelling or simply moving out, the transition from a busy house to an empty nest involves myriad emotional and practical hurdles.
Celebrity parents such as Madonna, Michelle Pfeiffer and Gordon Ramsay have all spoken out about the difficulties they faced when their children left home, with TV chef Ramsay – known for his no-nonsense approach in the kitchen – admitting that he was “a mess” when he dropped his son Jack off at Exeter University in 2018.
And with record numbers of university applications this year, it means that more parents than usual will become empty nesters this autumn.
According to therapist Dipti Tait, empty nest syndrome is a particular type of loss and can leave many parents in a state of grief.
“It’s a bittersweet feeling because, on the one hand, we are happy for our children making decisions about their own lives and their future, but it can also lead to an identity crisis of sorts,” explains Tait, author of…
