I’ve been an entrepreneur and a stay-at-home mom, and recently became an empty nester. Here’s how I figured out what’s next

Parents can feel lost when their children leave to build their own lives, but this can be a great time to start something new. Being a mother is a job that most of us do for at least 18 years straight. And it’s a 24/7 role that doesn’t let us take off nights and weekends. Then, provided that we‘ve done it properly, one day we’re out of a job. When our children grow up to become independent—as we raise them to be—we can feel alone and untethered. Imagine working at any job for 18 years and then being let go. How would that feel?