The transition to an empty nest is often viewed as a major milestone in a parent’s life. When children grow up, move out, and begin building their own lives, it signals the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. Yet, while the initial experience of the empty nest can come with mixed emotions—pride, relief, uncertainty—it’s the long-term adjustment that many parents find most challenging. As years pass and adult children become increasingly independent, the day-to-da