Becoming an empty nester has been a bittersweet chapter in my life. The quiet that once seemed like a luxury suddenly felt like a void. After years of bustling routines, packing lunches, noisy pizza nights, bath-and-hair wash nights, and bedtime stories, the stillness left behind felt jarring. But in that quiet space, I found something unexpected – room to create, reflect, and reconnect with the people I love most, my family – in a new way.

One day, while flipping through old photo albums and a book on animals of the world and remembering the magic of childhood with my kids, I had an idea: what if I wrote a children’s book? But not just any story—I wanted to create a book with my children and grandchildren and about them. A story that captured their quirks, their adventures, their fears, their laughter. A book that could be read at bedtime for years to come, passed down like a family heirloom.

So I made the decision that this was my time and got to work. I was thrilled that one of our sons wanted to co-author the book. We brainstormed characters, many of whom bore striking resemblances to little ones, grown-up kids, and grandparents. We wove in family activities, favorite foods, juice boxes, and even Grandma’s and Grandpa’s images in our characters. The process was filled with joy and laughter—a true collaboration that made our bonds even stronger.

For our first children’s book, we added our grandchildren as characters, the Tiny Heroes along with the main character. Now our grandchildren are helping to write the next books in the series.

Writing this book – and the upcoming series – turned out to be a beautiful bridge among generations. It reminded me of my creative spirit and created a legacy that reaches far beyond an empty-nest house. If you’re an empty nester looking for a new adventure, consider turning your family’s memories into stories. You might be surprised at how full your nest still is – with love, laughter, imagination – and a children’s book that carries on the legacy of your family.

Family Ink: The Mother and Son Storytelling Team