VISUAL DEFINITIONS

Empty Nest

Feeling of loss when the last child leaves home

One last family picture before orchid heads to college. Petaluma, California. Photo by author.

This couple’s orchid got into college. They are about to experience empty nest syndrome. They only had one kid because kids are expensive — especially in California.

Sometimes they like to talk about how amazing it was to have one kid. But that if they would’ve lived in Idaho, they…