PODCAST: Being Kind to yourself when the kids leave home

kim14670
Jun 9
2 min read

I'm back with Louise Wiles and Elizabeth Gillies in a second recording, this time with the parents at the forefront. Check out this and future episodes HERE.

Is your child heading off to university this autumn? Or maybe they’re about to start, or have already begun, a gap year or placement abroad?

This episode sits at a different end of the spectrum of the work I do with parents.

Often, I’m supporting those in the thick of the juggle, the early years of parenting alongside career demands. But this conversation is about another big shift — when our children begin to take flight.

It’s a time of enormous transition for them, of course. But it’s also a major transition for us as parents (and I can't quite talk from first hand experience just yet!).

It can bring with it a real mix of emotions — pride, sadness, uncertainty, even a sense of loss — all while we continue to manage work, other children, and caring responsibilities.

In this episode, I speak with Louise about how we can meet ourselves with kindness during this season of change, and why that matters so much, not just for us, but for the young people we’re letting go of.

We talk about:

Why this transition is a big deal for parents too
What can make it feel so emotionally intense
Practical ways we can be kind to ourselves at this time
The importance of modelling that kindness to our children
My K.I.N.D. framework — a tool to help keep self-care, support, and compassion at the heart of this next chapter