Surviving (and Loving) the Empty Nest (Ep 194)

Our youngest is packing boxes this week and the house is about to be a lot quieter. In this episode, we get real about the season neither of us knew how to fully prepare for: becoming empty nesters.

From the tears that show up out of nowhere to the surprising financial "raise" that comes with fewer mouths to feed, this conversation is an honest, unscripted look at what changes (and what doesn't) when your kids launch out on their own. Key Moments: 00:00 — Ericka opens up about the wave of emotion that hit before their youngest's last Sunday at church as a resident 01:25 — Chris names the "new normal": this isn't just a shift for their daughter, it's a shift for their marriage 05:40 — Why Chris leans into excitement while Ericka processes with more caution and what that says about how partners grieve differently 14:23 — The hard truth: why some marriages don't survive the empty nest, and how to protect yours 18:34 — The eye-opening stat: raising a kid to 18 costs roughly $310,000.

So what actually happens to that money now? 24:31 — The research on empty-nest satisfaction, and the freedom and spontaneity they're already tasting 30:07 — Full circle: how their relationship with their oldest daughter actually got better after she moved out Who this is for: Parents standing at the edge of the empty nest season (or already living in it). Couples who've spent 18+ years as co-managers of a household and are wondering who they are to each other now.

Anyone quietly grieving a transition they're "supposed" to be excited about. And every couple who wants to be intentional with the time, money, and freedom that opens up when the kids move out.

Why you should listen: This isn't a polished, after-the-fact reflection. We're processing this transition in real time, with all the contradictions intact (pride and grief, excitement and unease, freedom and financial recalibration, all in the same breath).

You'll walk away with language for feelings you may not have named yet, a practical way to think about the "raise" you get when a kid moves out, and reassurance that the relationship with your kids and your spouse isn't ending. It's just changing shape.

Our website: Get Ericka's book, Naked and Unashamed: 10 Money Conversations Every Couple Must Have Check out our local TV spotlight Connect with us: Instagram: @forbetterandworth YouTube: @forbetterandworth Ericka: @erickayoungofficial Chris: @1cbyoung