Launching Your Children and Rediscovering Yourself in Midlife with Emily McMason
Late summer carries a unique rhythm for so many midlife women.
Some of us are sending our children off to college for the very first time, watching as they walk toward independence with excitement and maybe a lump in our throat. Others are packing up their kids' bags again after having them home all summer, quietly bracing ourselves for the quiet that follows.
Whether you’re launching your children into the world or navigating another back-to-school goodbye, this time of year can stir a deep sense of transition.
That’s exactly why this episode from the Women Mastering Midlife archives is worth returning to—Episode 4: “Launching Your Children and Rediscovering Yourself” with Emily McMason.
Emily is a parenting coach and founder of the Return to Me program, where she gently guides mothers through the emotional and identity shifts that arise when children grow up and begin their next chapter. In this conversation, we explored something so many of us feel but rarely say out loud: the strange, sacred grief and freedom of midlife motherhood.
“There’s a silence that settles after our kids leave but inside that quiet is the invitation to hear your own voice again.” — Emily McMason
Emily reminds us that while we’ve spent years pouring ourselves into our families, this moment isn’t an end. It’s a return to who you are outside of your role as a mother.
Together we talked about:
Why grief and pride can coexist when your children become more independent
The shift from doing to witnessing in the parenting relationship
How midlife is an opportunity to rediscover your own dreams, values, and voice
The power of conscious support and community in this transitional season
If you’ve been feeling the ache of goodbye, or the uncertain quiet after the car pulls away, this episode is for you.
Go back to Episode 4 and listen now:
Apple Podcasts
This conversation is one of our most meaningful early episodes—and it’s especially timely right now. Whether you missed it the first time or need to hear it again with fresh ears, it’s waiting for you in the archive, full of compassion, clarity, and encouragement.
And if you're feeling the urge to reconnect with your own identity this fall—know that you're not alone. The Women Mastering Midlife Community is here to walk alongside you, with open-hearted support and resources made just for this season of life.
Ready to continue the conversation?
Join us in the community or explore coaching support designed for women just like you, standing on the edge of something new.
