Transitioning From Parent To Empty Nester with Michelle Lee & Mark O'Toole

Grief Recovery Now with Charlene Gorzela

03-11-2020 • 50 mins

Grief can show up in many forms. Regardless of our type of loss, we’re transitioning to a new stage of life, where the things that we were used to are not the same anymore. I always say grieving should not be a process that you go through alone. There are groups you can join, there are people that can help you, and there are easier ways to go through this experience of losing someone or something.

One common form of grief that people don’t often talk about, is becoming an empty nester, when your children go off to college, for example. After spending almost two decades taking care of them and identifying with being a full-time parent, oftentimes giving up on your dreams to help them follow theirs, suddenly losing all that, can be a hard pill to swallow.

Today, I have an amazing dynamic duo – Michelle Lee and Mark O’Toole – that come all the way from Australia to share their journey from parents to empty nesters, and how they’ve decided to focus on helping others that go through the same experience as they did.

They are the Dream Architects and are passionate about experiencing life in all its dimensions, learning from a place of curiosity and anticipation, and giving from an intention of love and service. Mark is a father of twin daughters - who are now in their 20’s and have flown the nest to lead their lives in their chosen careers of music & sound - and Michelle is a proud and loving mother to her two daughters who are also in their 20’s and leading independent lives.

Tune in, and listen to Episode 06 of Grief Recovery Now, to learn how you can reignite your life, follow your dreams, and rediscover your identity after your children have left your nest.

Some questions I ask:

How do you help your clients in their journey of being empty nesters? (15:00)
Can you talk about discovering what you want through realizing what you don’t want? (20:17)
Mark, I remember you talked about being on your porch and you had a revelation – can you talk about that? (23:38)
What would you suggest to someone who says, “I don’t have the strength”, and who thinks grieving is a permanent condition? (27:35)
How did you two get together? (30:06)

In this episode, you will learn:

The importance of being grateful for things we usually take for granted. (04:57)
How Michelle handled her beginnings of being an empty nester. (07:00)
How to deal with the loss of your identity as a full-time parent, when your kids leave the home. (09:47)
The importance of contributing back to yourself, and building yourself up again, once your kids are gone. (13:50)
How Michelle & Mark’s program, “My Dreams Matter” can help you reignite your life. (18:52)
The power gratitude can have in your life. (40:03)
The importance of honoring how you’re feeling and getting in touch with your emotions. (41:55)

Connect with Michelle and Mark:

Let’s Connect!

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