Real Moms Give Real Advice

There is a shift that happens when your child’s senior year begins. It starts quietly, tucked between the excitement of senior photos, last games, and graduation plans. But little by little, it starts to hit you. This season is about to change everything. Brandy remembers it well. “Senior year and the summer that followed were emotional for me as a parent. I was sad to see this chapter of Owen’s life come to an end, but at the same time, I felt so much excitement and hope for what the future holds for him.” When her son graduated, she and her husband found themselves in a new chapter as empty nesters. “I’ve spent so much of my life taking care of kids. My time, energy, and attention have always been wrapped up in motherhood, and suddenly, it felt like I had no idea what to do with myself.”

That kind of change can feel like being handed a blank page after years of a full, beautiful story. Brandy started filling it with small, peaceful moments. She spent quiet mornings with coffee on the deck, learned to enjoy the stillness, and even started feeding the birds. “The quiet house has been the biggest adjustment,” she said. “To fill that space, we started a tradition: Thursday night family suppers. Our kids, their friends, whoever shows up, it’s quickly become one of my favorite days of the week.”

Stacey shared her own version of that moment when she realized her teen was really leaving home. “Pulling out the totes, sorting through photos, and looking through grade school papers pulled on the heartstrings,” she said. What she misses most is something simple yet powerful. “Their presence and knowing they were home and safe. I’m a bit of a worrywart,” she admitted with a smile.

Like Brandy, Stacey is learning to fill her time in new ways. “Our oldest daughter started making candles, so I’ve been helping her. I also love my plants,” she laughed. When asked what she would tell her younger self, the mom who once juggled toddlers and carpool lines, she said, “Embrace the chaos. You raise the one thing you can’t live without, to live without you. That quote hit the nail on the head.” Both moms agree that parenthood does not end when your kids move out. It just looks a little different. There are still daily texts, phone calls, and those words that never get old, I love you. There is pride too, in watching your child chase their own dreams and build a life beyond your walls.

“This time has been emotional for sure,” Brandy said. “But also beautiful. It has been a time of change, growth, and rediscovery. While I will always miss having a full house, I am starting to realize this new stage has its own kind of magic.” If you are standing on the edge of this season yourself, maybe this is your reminder that there is beauty on the other side of change. There is space for new traditions, deeper connections, and a rediscovery of who you are beyond Mom.

If senior year has your heart feeling all the things, joy, nostalgia, pride, and a few tears, reach out to plan a session that celebrates your senior’s story and this new chapter of yours too.