In this episode, I share my own experience with empty nest loneliness, how it impacted my relationship, and the small but powerful steps I took to reconnect with myself and rebuild my self identity. We talk about how shame can keep us stuck, why pretending everything is fine only deepens the disconnection, and the moment I decided to face the truth out loud.

I open up about the role therapy played in helping me unravel years of overgiving, how honest conversations brought my husband and I closer, and why reaching out to old friends became a lifeline. You’ll hear how I shifted from feeling invisible to creating meaningful connections in both my marriage and everyday life.

Here’s what we unpacked:

• Why empty nest life can trigger unexpected signs of loneliness
• How to recognize emotional distance in relationships before it grows
• Practical ways to rediscover yourself after years of prioritizing everyone else
• The first step to relationship renewal in a long-term marriage
• Why naming your feelings is the starting point for coping with change
• How to take one small, intentional step toward connection every day
• Ways to rebuild a deeper emotional connection with your partner
• The importance of seeking community and not waiting for someone else to “rescue” you

If you’re in the season of redefining who you are after the kids have left, this conversation offers grounded support, honest reflection, and actionable steps to help you feel seen again — in your marriage, in your relationships, and most importantly, in yourself.

Here’s to finding your way back to you, one honest step at a time.

Allison

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Connect with me:

Website: https://www.lifecoachallisongoldberg.com

Email: navigatingthelaunch@gmail.com

In this episode, I sit down with my soon-to-be son-in-law Adam to talk about what it really felt like to leave home and head to college. He looked ready on the outside but inside, he was figuring out how to stay grounded while everything around him was changing.

If you’ve been looking for parenting advice that’s honest and rooted in real experience with talking to teens, this episode is for you. We talk about real examples, awkward moments, and the quiet things boys often don’t express.

Here’s what we unpacked:

• How to offer steady emotional support during your son’s college journey
• Practical parenting tips for guiding teens through big decisions
• The importance of family communication when your child pulls away
• How to approach talking to teens who don’t share much
• Why healthy setting boundaries helps both parents and kids feel safe
• Real ways to support the transition to adulthood without micromanaging
• How to stay connected while navigating change as you parent adult children
• What sons often feel but rarely say when leaving home
• How to navigate early life transitions with empathy and confidence
• Simple tips for long-distance parenting that actually work
• What every parent needs to hear about understanding teenagers

Whether you’re weeks away from college drop-off or already a year into the launch, this episode is filled with honest reflections and real tools to help you show up with love, presence, and calm confidence.

Here’s to trusting their journey while staying rooted in love,

Allison

Want to be a guest on the show? Apply to share your story.

Connect with me: Website: https://www.lifecoachallisongoldberg.com

Email: navigatingthelaunch@gmail.com

Do you ever feel like no one warned you how hard it would be once the kids left home? Have you found yourself wondering what’s left for you now? Are you exhausted trying to hold it together as a single mom while everything around you feels like it’s unraveling?

In this episode, Kelly shares what it’s really like to rebuild self-worth after heartbreak, raise kids alone, and face life after divorce with no guidebook. We talk about how ignoring relationship red flags led to more pain, and how the real work starts when we choose to stop abandoning ourselves.

Kelly opens up about dealing with emotional burnout, the power of journaling for healing, and how fitness and self-awareness helped her through intense lows. You’ll also hear why choosing yourself is not selfish, how community support changed everything.

Here’s what we unpacked:

• Why being an empty nester can feel more like grief than freedom
• How to spot early relationship red flags and trust your gut
• How to rebuild self-worth when everything feels like it’s falling apart
• What setting boundaries looks like when you’re used to overgiving
• How journaling for healing or voice notes can release stored emotions
• Ways to prevent or recognize signs of emotional burnout
• Why fitness can be a reliable outlet for emotional healing
• How starting or joining a small group for community support can help you feel seen

If you’re in the thick of redefining who you are after the kids have left, this episode offers grounded support, relatable truths, and real steps to help you move forward with clarity, strength, and a deeper sense of self.

Here’s to honoring your growth while learning to choose yourself,

Allison

Want to be a guest on the show? Apply to share your story.

Connect with me:

Website: https://www.lifecoachallisongoldberg.com

Email: navigatingthelaunch@gmail.com

What happens when your kids grow up but still need you in new ways? What do you do when you're trying to help without taking over?

This week I sat down with Bernadette Catalana, attorney, author, and mom of two grown daughters, for a real conversation about the ongoing motherhood journey. Together, we explore the hard parts of parenting adult children, how the mother daughter relationship changes over time, and what it takes to stay close without crossing the line.

We didn’t just talk about the emotional stuff, we got into the practical tools too!

Here’s what we unpacked:

• Practice emotional parenting when the problems get bigger and more personal
• Use family communication to stay connected, even when they pull away
• Show your kids how to live by leading by example, not lectures
• Stay steady through life transitions like breakups, illness, and independence
• Build a strong mom and daughter bond through trust, not control
• Use intentional parenting when you're not in charge of their day-to-day life
• Respectfully set boundaries that protect both you and them
• Navigate the real challenges of career and motherhood at different life stages
• Reframe "balance" into sustainable work life harmony
• Offer meaningful motherhood advice without stepping on your child's growth

Whether you're deep into raising daughters or just starting to experience the shift in your role, this episode gives you practical, honest tools for parenting through change and staying present through it all.

Listen in and find out how to stay close, stay steady, and keep showing up, even when everything keeps changing.

Here’s to leading with presence, not control.

Allison

Want to be a guest on the show? Apply to share your story.

Connect with me:

Website: https://www.lifecoachallisongoldberg.com

Email: navigatingthelaunch@gmail.com

Ever wonder what your partner is really thinking about the kids leaving home? What if you could get inside his head and hear the unspoken fears, the surprising joys, and the honest truth about what this new chapter means for your marriage? Well, today in a special episode, I’m sitting down with my husband, Joel, for a raw and honest conversation about his experience as an empty nester.

We’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s like from a husband's perspective, the loneliness he felt, the concerns he had for me, and how our relationship has transformed since the kids left the nest. This episode is for anyone dealing with the quiet house, changing identities, and the amazing chance to rediscover love with your partner.

"When you have that time, I think there can be a loneliness, a sadness, a boredom, whatever that comes along with just what do I do with my day, what's my purpose?"

In this episode, I share:

👉 A husband’s perspective on the empty nest

👉 The initial loneliness and adjustment period

👉 Fears about the marriage post-kids

👉 How fatherhood changes after children leave

👉 Recommitting to the marriage and partnership

👉 Moving houses to start a new chapter

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Want to be a guest on the show? Share your story.

Find out more about me here, or shoot me an email navigatingthelaunch@gmail.com

Are you standing in your quiet kitchen, feeling a void that even work can't fill? There's nothing wrong with you, and there are proactive ways to feel like yourself again. Today, I’m exploring a topic often left unspoken: the profound emotional shift that happens when our homes become quiet after our kids launch.

Many of us imagine an empty nest filled with relaxation and new hobbies, but the reality for so many is a sense of grief, loneliness, or a feeling of being completely lost. I want you to know that feeling this way is completely normal – you're not broken; you're just adjusting. Let’s explore proactive ways to navigate these feelings, from the power of therapy and life coaching to creating a personal "wellness space" in your home. It's about remembering that you matter, your joy matters, and this quiet period is actually the beginning of a new chapter in your life.

In this episode, I discuss:

👉 Coping with the empty nest quiet

👉 Why grief and loneliness are normal

👉 Therapy versus life coaching benefits

👉 Affordable mental wellness resources

👉 Creating your home wellness sanctuary

👉 Rebuilding your social connections

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Download my FREE Mental Wellness Starter Kit

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Find out more about me here, or shoot me an email navigatingthelaunch@gmail.com

What if we’ve been looking at our children's success all wrong? Senior year hits, and we're on an unexpected rollercoaster. It’s not just our kids’ transition; it’s ours, too. While they figure out who they are without us, we must figure out who we are without them. It’s a messy, beautiful, often terrifying process of letting go. Today, I speak with Stuart Dow, Head of School at Emery Weiner. He has a front-row seat to what readiness looks like for both our kids and us, the parents, as we learn to let go. As an administrator, he teaches every senior, providing them with a valuable perspective on their shifts that we might miss.

In this episode, Stuart and I explore what it takes for a teen to thrive, emphasizing patience and allowing kids to find their own path. Stuart highlights the importance of soft skills, such as respect, eye contact, and apologies, for long-term success, often more so than academic ability. He discusses common parental mistakes, such as projecting dreams and intervening too much, especially before college. This conversation offers a grounded, empowering perspective, reminding us our role isn't to control outcomes but to build a foundation and trust them to succeed.

In this episode, we discuss:

👉 The emotional transition for parents and teens

👉 Why patience is a parent’s greatest tool

👉 Soft skills that matter more than grades

👉 How parental interference can hinder growth

👉 Letting kids find their own unique paths

👉 The truth about following talent versus passion

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Want to be a guest on the show? Share your story.

Find out more about me here, or shoot me an email navigatingthelaunch@gmail.com

Ever looked around and felt like your child's launch doesn't fit the "typical" path? What if their dream doesn't involve a dorm or a degree? Today, we're redefining what a successful launch truly looks like.

Many of you have asked me: What happens when your child's launch doesn't follow the straight-to-college path? We often hear about the "one-dimensional path": high school, college, job, independence. But the truth is, launch is rarely a straight line, and it definitely doesn't always include a degree. As parents, it's vital that we stop measuring our worth, or our children's, by whether they took this "expected" path. Today, I’ll share how to support your child without judgment, how to set expectations if they return home, and, most importantly, how to celebrate their unique successes, big or small. This episode is all about letting go of your plan and allowing them to create their own dream.

In this episode, we cover:

👉 Challenging the "traditional" launch narrative

👉 Celebrating success beyond a college degree

👉 Supporting your child without judgment

👉 Setting clear expectations for boomerang kids

👉 Watching for progress, not perfection

👉 Celebrating your child's "little wins"

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Want to be a guest on the show? Share your story.

Find out more about me here, or shoot me an email navigatingthelaunch@gmail.com