Empty Nesting as a Single Parent: A Playbook for the 9th Inning of Parenting

I often share what's unfolding in my current chapter of life, and today I'm writing about the approaching reality of empty nesting—specifically, empty nesting as a single parent, with all the unique challenges this transition brings. I have so many wonderful memories of raising my children. My son was two years old when my divorce began, and over the years I’ve learned I did some things right and some things not so right.  This is one of my favorite pics of my three sweeties in our favorite place—Phoenix, Az.

This one's for you, the single parent preparing to watch your child step off your home field and onto their own. I see how hard it is to navigate this territory alone, to say those milestone goodbyes without a partner by your side, to feel that particular aloneness when you realize you're in the 9th inning of active parenting with no one in the stands beside you to share both the pride and the heartache.

I see you. I hear you. And I'm right there with you.

 So, here is my playbook as I prepare for this year's transition– here are the strategies I'm implementing—my game plan for this emotional season:

1. Build Your Bullpen: Gather Your Support System

 Just as a baseball team relies on relievers when the starter needs help, identify your relief squad now. Fellow empty nesters, longtime friends, family members who understand—these are the people who can step in when emotions feel overwhelming. Schedule regular coffee dates, walks, or calls with them. Share honestly about your experience; you don't need to field this alone.

 2. Document the Final Season: Capture Every Moment

 Take those photos and videos, even when your child rolls their eyes. Create a highlight reel of this final season at home. I've started a photo journal of last moments—not to dwell in sadness, but to honor the significance of these transitions.

 3. Practice Self-Compassion: Be Kind to Your Own Heart

 Give yourself permission to feel everything—the pride, the grief, the anxiety, the relief. Without a partner to validate these feelings, we must learn to validate them ourselves. Your emotions aren't "too much"; they're exactly right for the magnitude of this change.

 4. Make a Post-Season Plan: Create New Rituals

 Just as retired players find new roles in the game, design new rituals for yourself. What interests have you set aside during intensive parenting years? What spaces—literal and figurative—can you reclaim? Start small: a new morning routine, a rearranged room, a class you've always wanted to take.

 5. Acknowledge Your Complete Game: Celebrate What You've Accomplished

 Take time to recognize what you've achieved as a single parent. You've pitched a complete game—through rain delays, extra innings, and challenging batters. The fact that your child is ready to leave home is testament to your success, not a sign of becoming unnecessary.

 6. Allow for Rain Delays: Give Yourself Grace in Hard Moments

 Remember that while this particular season is ending, you're not retiring from parenthood—you're simply moving to a different position. The relationship continues to evolve and often deepens in unexpected ways.

Until next time, remember that even after the 9th inning, there's still a whole career of meaningful moments ahead.

Stepping up to this new plate with you!