The Empty Nest:
Finding The Path Forward
An 8-week facilitated women's only support experience
Talk, listen, learn, laugh, vent and support.
A different topic and guided conversation every week.
You just dropped your kid off at school...
You're panicking. Proud. Lost. Uncertain. Devastated.
You don't know how you're going to do this, empty nesting.
You definitely don't know what life is going to look like now.
You DON'T have to do it alone.
August 26, 2026 - October 14, 2026
Wednesdays, 7pm-8:30pm
Maybe You're Feeling...
Why does my house feel so different?
Why am I crying when I'm also incredibly proud?
What is my purpose now?
How do I stay close to my child without hovering?
What if my child doesn't need me the way they used to?
What am I supposed to do with all this time?
Why does my marriage dynamic suddenly feel different?
Why do I feel guilty for enjoying my freedom?
Who am I now?
What comes next for me?
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If you've asked yourself even one of these questions...you're in the right place!
The week everything changed.
You made sure they were prepared. You helped pack the car. You carried the boxes. You walked into the dorm and took a breath - maybe trying not to be obvious. You kept busy by making the bed.
You hugged your child. And then you walked away.
Maybe you're driving home right now wondering what you're supposed to do with the enormous emotions you're carrying.
You can be thrilled for your child and still be heartbroken for yourself.
Both can be true. You may not know what comes next or where to begin. You're grieving.
You don't have to navigate what comes next by yourself.
More than a weekly Zoom call.
Your Experience Includes:
8 Facilitated Sessions
90 minutes each week with guided topics and meaningful discussion about navigating the changing relationship with your child while discovering who you are, what you want, and where your life goes from here.
A Private Members-Only Community
A place to ask questions, check resources, vent, share the good days, and the really hard ones.
The Empty Nest Buddy Initiative
An opportunity to connect with another mother in the group who understands what you are going through. The goal is to form friendships.
Breakout Rooms
Opportunities to build deeper relationships within the larger group.
Resources & Practical Guidance
Support for navigating the changing relationship with your child, your partner, your family, and most importantly yourself. Practical guidance on this changing stage of your life.
Real-World Connection
Optional in-person events to be scheduled by the peers: dinners, coffee, movies, and other local opportunities of like-minded individuals to get together and make actual friends.*
*dependent upon other participants and your local region. This cannot be guaranteed.
What We'll Talk About
Don't see a topic you like? Submit your idea or request!
YOURSELF
Identity. Purpose. Loneliness. Freedom. Guilt. Your changing body. Aging. What you want now. Finding yourself again. Setting goals. Creating the next chapter.
How to deal with people who do not understand. How to make friends as an adult. When you discover that you no longer have the same friends groups. How to fill what feels like an empty home. Having an empty calendar that once was packed with activity.
YOUR CHILD
Independence. College. Communication. Grades. Money. Safety. Relationships. Coming Home. Knowing when to step in - and when to let go. When you and your child have been best friends. Creating a plan for being sick. Studying abroad. Choosing a major. Coping with not knowing their friends. Meeting their partner. Navigating changing views or opinions. Forging a close bond from afar.
YOUR MARRIAGE & FRIENDSHIPS
Rediscovering your relationship. To stay or not to stay - how the children leaving the home can force a couple to face their issues. Loneliness in the home. A quiet home. Budgeting for college. When parents, "parent" differently. How friendships in adulthood change. What happens when you lose the PTA friends. Making new friends as an adult. Finding your people. Single parenting from afar.
YOUR FUTURE
Life purpose. Adventure. Travel. Creativity. Career. Budgeting. Community. Love. Creating a life that feels like yours. Starting a side hustle or changing careers. Stepping into you. What does the version of you look like without the daily constraints of taking care of the children? What happens to the house now that the rooms are empty? Deciding where to live. Creating the life of your dreams. Relocating.
What You'll Walk Away With:
Feeling Heard
A safe place to vent your feelings can help to protect your current relationships.
A Plan For the Future
A clearer sense of what you want next.
A Community
A private community on Facebook to turn to on the hard days. The ongoing support of your peers.​​
A Better Relationship With Your Child
New ways to navigate your changing relationship with your child.
Friendship
​Opportunities to build genuine friendships with women in the same stage of life.
Action Plans
Ideas and plans for creating a fuller life.
Protecting Your Peace
Practical tools for boundaries and communication.
Things To Do
Connections outside the weekly Zoom
A Vision
A personal vision for your next chapter. ​​
And most importantly:
You won't be standing in that quiet house wondering, "Now what?" all by yourself.
This group is for you if...
Your child is leaving or has left for college.
Your child has recently left home.
Your child is becoming increasingly independent.
You're anticipating an empty nest and already feeling the emotions.
You are struggling to find support among those you know and love.
You feel misunderstood.
You don't understand all of your complex emotions surrounding the separation.
You're proud of your child - but struggling with what this means for you.
You're ready to stop simply reacting to the transition and start figuring out what comes next.
You don't have to be at any particular stage. You just have to be willing to walk through it with other women.
Meet Your Facilitator
Leah Claire
Facilitator, Educator, Community Builder
Leah Claire brings years of experience creating meaningful conversations, guiding people through personal transitions, and helping people find clarity and direction when life doesn't look the way they expected it to.
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As a mother and empty nester, Leah understands the complex emotion that accompanies this life transition. Her oldest child is entering his third year of college and her youngest is preparing to move out.
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She created The Empty Nest: Finding Your Path Forward to bring women together in a space that is thoughtful, supportive, honest and safe - where you can talk about the things you may not feel comfortable saying anywhere else, learn from women walking the same road, and begin figuring out what comes next for you.
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You don't have to have it all figured out. You just need a place to begin.
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The Details
The Empty Nest:
Finding Your Path Forward
8 weeks
August 26, 2026 - October 14, 2026
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Live Zoom: Weekly, 90 minutes
When: Wednesdays, 7:00PM - 8:30PM
Format: Facilitated conversation by topic​​​​
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Program Fee:
$258 total for the full 8-week program.
Registration is a commitment to
the complete 8-week experience.
You are not losing your child.
You're learning how to have a different relationship with them.
You're learning how to have a different relationship with yourself.
There is life on the other side of this transition.
Let's find your path forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the actual dates of the Zoom Meetings?
The program is scheduled to run for eight weeks beginning on August 26, 2026 and taking place on the following dates from 7:00pm - 8:30pm Eastern Time Zone:
August 26, 2026
September 2, 2026
September 9, 2026
September 16, 2026
September 23, 2026
September 30, 2026
October 7, 2026
October 14, 2026
How is the program paid for?
The program fee is $258, paid in full at registration. Registration is a commitment to the full 8-week experience.​
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Can I cancel if I decide the group isn't for me or if I feel I have gotten the most out of it after a few weeks?
Registration is a commitment to the full 8-week experience. Payments are non-refundable, and choosing to stop participating does not qualify for a refund, credit, transfer, or reduction in the amount paid.
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What if I miss a session?
You can simply miss the session. Your membership and access to the community continue according to the program schedule. Missed sessions do not qualify for refunds, credits or reductions in payment.
What if my child hasn't left yet?
You're welcome. This group is for women whose children are preparing to leave, are leaving now, have recently left, or are becoming increasingly independent. You don't have to wait until the house is empty to begin preparing for what comes next.
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What if my child is already away at college?
You're absolutely welcome. In fact, this may be the perfect time to join. We'll address the changing relationship with your child throughout the college years and beyond - including communication, independence, visits, boundaries, grades, relationships, money, safety and coming home.
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What if I'm having a really difficult time with this?
That's exactly why this community exists. You don't have to pretend you're fine. You'll have a place to talk about the difficult days, hear from women experiencing similar feelings and build relationships with people who understand.
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What if I'm not sure how I feel?
There is no "right" way to feel. It is also common to feel one way in one moment, and completely different in another moment. All of those feelings are valid. This will be discussed in the group.
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What happens during the weekly Zoom sessions?
Each 90-minute session is a facilitated conversation around a specific topic. Leah Claire will introduce the topic, offer guidance and questions, and invite participants to share their experiences, perspectives and questions. This is an interactive group - not a lecture. There will also be breakout rooms in the Zoom, where the group will break into smaller groups to really get a chance to voice what is going on with them that week and get the support in a smaller setting.
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Do I have to speak?
No. You are welcome to participate at the level you are comfortable with. You also may choose to listen until you are ready to participate. When you are ready, you can share as much or as little as feels right for you.
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Is this therapy?
No. The Empty Nest is a facilitated peer-support and educational community, not therapy or psychotherapy. It is a place to talk, listen, learn, connect and navigate this transition alongside other women experiencing it.
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I'm not located in NY, does that matter?
Women from anywhere in the country can participate. All Zooms will take place from 7:00pm - 8:30pm in Eastern Time/NY Time. Please be sure to check your time zone.
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Will I make friends?
That's one of the goals. Through the private community, buddy system, smaller connections and optional local meetups, you'll have opportunities to build genuine friendships with women experiencing this same chapter.
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Are the local meetups required?
No. The local meetups and activities are completely optional to attend. They can be opportunities to take the relationships beyond Zoom and actually get together, make plans and have some fun. The local meetups are not a part of the actual program and are organized most often by members of the group. This is not affiliated with Leah Claire or officially associated with The Empty Nest program. If you choose to participate in a member-organized meetup, please use your own judgment and take appropriate precautions when meeting people you have only interacted with online. Leah Claire is not responsible for member-organized meetups or interactions that take place outside the program.
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What if I don't live close enough to attend local meetups or do not have transportation?
You can participate virtually through the online community and Zoom sessions. Local activities are an additional opportunity, not a requirement.
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What if I become sick or have an emergency?
You can miss individual sessions, but the program does not provide refunds, credits, or payment reductions for missed sessions or personal circumstances.
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Is my information private?
We ask every participant to respect the privacy of the group and not to share another participant's personal information or stories outside the community. However, because this is a peer group, absolute confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.
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What happens after the 8-week program is over and I still need assistance?
There will be an option to continue on a month to month basis at $129/month. The members of the group will be given the option to extend. ​​
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Can I ask Leah to cover a certain topic of discussion?
Yes. Please submit your questions in the Facebook group. If Leah can cover them, she will. Please note, if the question is off-topic or not applicable to the group as a whole, the topic may not be discussed.
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The program has already started, can I still join?
Yes. However, you must still pay for the full program.
Program Terms & Fine Print
Please read before registering.
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The Empty Nest: Finding Your Path Forward is an 8-week facilitated women's peer-support and educational experience running from August 26, 2026 through October 14, 2026, with scheduled holiday and program breaks. By registering, you are reserving your place in the program and agreeing to these Program Terms, as well as the full Leah Claire Terms & Conditions.
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PAYMENT & COMMITMENT
ALL PAYMENTS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE and NON-TRANSFERABLE.
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Registration is a commitment to the full 8-week experience.
Program Fee: $258, paid in full at registration. ​
Choosing to discontinue participation, missing sessions, changing your mind, or being unable to attend does not qualify for a refund, credit, transfer, or reduction in the amount owed.​​​
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EXTENSIONS
Upon the conclusion of the initial 8-week program, The Empty Nest: Finding Your Path forward, you will be given the option of extending your membership in the Empty Nest Community and Zooms for $129/month. If you choose to extend your participation after the initial 8-week program, you will be billed $129 per month until you notify us that you wish to cancel at leahclairemedium@gmail.com
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ATTENDANCE
Weekly Zoom sessions are part of the program experience. If you are unable to attend a session, you may miss that session, but missed sessions do not qualify for refunds, credits, or reductions in payment.
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Optional social activities and local meetups are not affiliated with this program. Attend at your own risk. Please be cautious with strangers. Activities may or may not be offered and can vary based on the organizer and participants, availability, and circumstances.
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COMMUNITY & CONFIDENTIALITY
This is a private community intended to provide a respectful, supportive environment for women navigating a similar life transition.
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Participants agree to respect the privacy of other members and not share, reproduce, screenshot, record, or distribute another participant's personal stories, comments, images or identifying information outside the group without permission.
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Because this is a peer-support community rather than a clinical or legally protected therapeutic setting, absolute confidentiality cannot be guaranteed. Please use your own discretion regarding information you choose to share. ​
RESPECTFUL PARTICIPATION
Participants are expected to communicate respectfully and help maintain a safe and supportive environment.
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Harassment, bullying, discrimination, threats, disruptive behavior, solicitation, or conduct that compromises the safety or wellbeing of the group will not be tolerated.
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Leah Claire reserves the right to remove a participant from the program or private community when necessary to protect the group or maintain a safe and respectful environment. Payments due will still be collected at the scheduled time and all payments remain non-refundable.
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WHAT THIS PROGRAM IS - AND IS NOT
The Empty Nest is a facilitated peer-support and educational experience. It is not psychotherapy, counseling, medical treatment, mental-health treatment, legal advice, financial advice, or a substitute for individualized professional services.
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Leah Claire is not acting as a licensed therapist, psychologist, medical doctor, financial advisor, or attorney through this or any other program, and is not a substitution for any such services.
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This program is intended to provide education, perspective, facilitated conversation, resources, connection and support. No specific or implied personal, emotional, relationship, or life results are guaranteed.
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Each participant is responsible for her own decisions, interpretations, actions and wellbeing.
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PROGRAM SCHEDULE & CHANGES
The program is scheduled to run for eight weeks beginning on August 26, 2026 and taking place on the following dates from 7:00pm - 8:30pm Eastern Time Zone:
August 26, 2026
September 2, 2026
September 9, 2026
September 16, 2026
September 23, 2026
September 30, 2026
October 7, 2026
October 14, 2026
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Topics, discussion formats, guest resources, community activities and meetup opportunities may be reasonably adjusted when necessary.
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Technical difficulties, illness, emergencies, weather, internet outages, or other circumstances beyond reasonable control may require a session or activity to be changed, postponed, or delivered in an alternative format. Reasonable efforts will be made to provide an appropriate alternative.
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PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENT
Participants must be a mother with a child who is moving out (temporarily/permanently, to college or otherwise).
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AGREEMENT
By submitting payment, you confirm that you have read, understood and agreed to these Program Terms & Conditions, including the payment, cancellation, confidentiality, participation, and disclaimers provisions stated above.
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