What happens when the kids no longer need you 24/7? In this heartfelt episode of Parenting Great Kids with Dr. Meg Meeker , we dive deep into the emotional and identity-shifting journey that many mothers face when transitioning from full-time parenting into the next chapter of their lives. Dr. Meg sits down with Karen Johnson , a former educator, stay-at-home mom, and author of What Do I Want to Be When They Grow Up? . Together, they unpack what it means to grieve the end of hands-on motherhood while rediscovering purpose, passions, and personal identity. Whether your children are in high school, heading off to college, or already out of the house, this episode offers compassionate, real-world advice for embracing life beyond daily parenting. In this episode, we discuss: The silent identity crisis many moms face after full-time parenting Why it’s okay to grieve while still feeling grateful How guilt and shame keep women stuck—and how to break free The power of strong friendships and finding your tribe Practical steps to dream again and prioritize your own self-care Reframing motherhood as a journey with many chapters—not a single role Join Us: 🌐 Ask Dr. Meg Community – Get direct access to live Q&As, exclusive content, and a tribe of intentional parents. 👉 Home - Meeker Parenting About Karen Johnson Karen Johnson is a former teacher turned stay-at-home mom and now the author of What Do I Want to Be When They Grow Up? . Her work encourages mothers to reflect, reset, and reignite their sense of self as they move into a new phase of motherhood 📬 Never Miss an Event – Subscribe to our mailing list for live event invites, new episode alerts, and weekly parenting wisdom. 👉 Join Our Mailing List Sponsors: Hungryroot – 40% off + free gift with code DRMEG Fam Gabs – 10% off conversation cards with code DRMEGPOD K12-powered Schools – Tuition-free, accredited online learning for K–12 Thrive Causemetics – Clean beauty with purpose. 10% off your first order See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
