Here are our 8 Best of the Empty Nest, the handful of beautiful musings that we feel encapsulate the journey from parenting in our homes full of little kids to parenting young adults striking out on their own. Some of these amazing writers offer us up their pain, most their humor and all their love. Each tells their own story, and like all good writing, it becomes our story. In no particular order:
Eight Favorite Empty Nest Essays
1. Anna Quindlen, “Flown Away, Left Behind,” Newsweek
2. Michael Gerson, “Saying Goodbye to My Child, the Youngster,” The Washington Post
3. Lisa Belkin, “How to Send Your Son Off to College,” The New York Times
4. Madeline Levine, “After the Children Have Grown,” The New York Times
5. Sharon Greenthal, “Commencement,” Empty House, Full Mind
6. Rob Lowe, “Unprepared,” from his memoir, Love Life, Slate Magazine
7. Marshall P. Duke, “Starting College: A Guide for Parents,” The Huffington Post
8. Charles Blow, “The Passion of Parenting,” The New York Times