Way back when, I went to grad school and earned a Master's in counseling psychology. Later, once my kids were born, I went back to school and added a graduate certificate in parenting education.

While my kids were in elementary school, I dreamed of helping parents whose kids were facing transitions. I created parenting education workshops and discussion groups to talk about transitions...to kindergarten, middle school, and even to college. My favorites were "What Your Kids Can Do When" and "College Bound."

During this time, my kids were my priority, and my work was extra. As they entered middle school, I started to feel uncomfortable. I was teaching something I hadn't yet experienced. I didn't know what kind of teenagers they would become. I wanted to teach parents about adolescents, but felt unprepared to do so. At the same time, I felt a pull to be home more. I didn't want to be out at night leading a workshop and miss time with my kids, even if that time was mundane and boring.

I did what other moms facing a challenge do, I found support.  I gathered a group of friends and asked them if we could find a way to talk about what we thought would be next for us. We formalized our group and met weekly for 3 months. Many of us were stay-at-home moms or were working part-time. At the end of the group, we all went on to do something new.

My next step was creating a business based on one of my passions. It was also a business that allowed me to be home with my kids.  In 2012, Sara Ran Away with the Spoon was born. It was a home-based bakery. I sold my stuffed cookies and bundt cakes at local farmers' markets. It existed in that format for 5 years. I realized that selling my treats (or creative works of art) was hard for me. I wanted to give away all of my cookies instead of selling them. Plus, I missed teaching. I adapted my business and focused on teaching teens to bake. My core message was that baking is empowering, especially for teens. It helps them gain confidence, create, build connection, and learn important life skills.

During my business transition, I became an official empty nester.  Both of my children had graduated college and moved on.  When I became an empty nester, I never really talked about what the empty nest transition was really like for me.. There were a lot of changes, and it would have been amazing to have had support.

A few years have passed and I’m feeling drawn back to my work around transitions. Leaning on my education and skills, I'd like to support for empty nest moms who are facing the changes I've recently experienced. My biggest takeaway is that the empty nest transition needs reframing. It's not all about loss and grief. I believe that when moms have guidance, community, and the opportunity to explore what's next, they have unlimited possibilities. I'm here to help build supportive communities for empty nest moms.