My kids will all graduate from high school in 5 years. I'm already preparing for my empty nest.
I still have five years, but I'm already taking steps to prepare for my empty nest. I'm strengthening my friendships and creating a travel wish list.
College
I traveled the world while taking online classes because it was cheaper than room and board at my college. I don't regret it.
To avoid large student loan debt after graduation, I took online classes at my local college. I then traveled while taking classes from my hostels.
I'm a computer science major and I rejected the hustle for FAANG jobs. I don't regret starting small.
Tricia Goh, 22, secured a full-time job at a software company. She is slated to graduate from the National University of Singapore in 2025.
My husband and I bought a storage-unit business. The customers can be difficult, but it pays for my daughter's college.
I own a mini storage unit business to pay for my daughter's college. One of my customers never pays on time because he spends his money on feral cats.
I've saved for my son's college tuition since he was in the first grade, and it's still not enough. I have 3 other kids to save for, too.
I don't want my four kids to graduate college with student loan debt, so I started saving 12 years ago. I'll never have enough money to help them all.
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My son is a recruited college athlete at Stanford. Imposter syndrome almost led him to drop out.
Stanford recruited my son as a college athlete. He worried he couldn't cut it at the school academically. He had plans to drop out and transfer.
My college freshman is coming home for the holidays. I'm worried he won't listen to any of my rules.
My son is returning home from college for the first time. Now that he has a taste of freedom and adulting, I'm trying to adjust my parenting rules.
Bill Belichick's shocking move to coach UNC shows how college teams are looking more like the pros
Bill Belichick's move to coach at UNC highlights the shift of college sports toward professionalization with NIL opportunities and revenue sharing.
My son couldn't find friends at his conservative college. He dropped out and enrolled in a community college instead.
My son was excited to start college, thinking he found his dream school. But we didn't research the social life on campus, and he just didn't fit in.
My twins were never close growing up. That changed when they both enrolled at the same college.
I thought my twins would be best friends, but they were never close and ran in different circles. They happened to attend the same college by chance.
I went back to college at 42 to finish my degree. My daughter is my classmate, and it's only brought us closer.
I always planned to finish my degree and went back to college at 42. My daughter goes to the same school, and it's only made us closer.
My son changed his college major from law to philosophy. Other parents warned me it was a huge mistake, but I support him.
I thought my son's career prospects narrowed when he decided to study philosophy in college. Other parents pushed me to change his mind.
My son is in his first semester in college. I want to give him space, but I also miss talking to him every day.
I wait for my son to contact me first so he has space to grow and be independent at college. But as an empty nester, the transition has been hard.
The most common jobs for US men and women without college degrees
Customer service representatives and truck drivers are the most common jobs for young women and men without a four-year degree, respectively.
My husband and I have two incomes and no kids, so I've opened college savings accounts for my nephew and nieces
My husband and I don't have any kids, so I'm saving for my nieces' and nephew's college tuition. I don't want them to have student-loan debt.
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Guy Fieri says that when his youngest son comes home from college, he 'sets a menu' for what he wants to eat
"He has a good meal program there at San Diego State, but he says it just doesn't taste the same as it does at home," Guy Fieri said.
I was thrilled the first time my son came home from college for the holidays. It wasn't always easy.
When my son came home from college, he was more independent. He didn't tell me where he was going or when he would be home. It was difficult for me.
My kid went to the wrong airport when traveling home from college for the first time. I then taught him these 5 travel tips.
My son messed up his travel plans when traveling home from college for the holidays for the first time. I now ensure he buys his own tickets.
I went to law school in Mexico and an Ivy League in the US. It was cheaper and easier to make friends in Mexico.
I first studied law in Mexico, where students were more open to making friends. I then moved to the US and enrolled at the costly Columbia.
'Moana' star Auli'i Cravalho says she kept deferring her Columbia place so the acting 'train' didn't come to a 'halt'
Auli'i Cravalho says she decided to postpone higher education because she couldn't focus on studying and acting at the same time.