Michele Howe has done it again. She has taken the journey a little ahead of me and held up the light so I can walk behind her with a bit more foresight and prayer in this parenting journey.

She covers subjects like grandparenting in crisis, getting along with your adult children’s in-laws, and worrying about your children’s choices, finances, and future. And of course, addresses what to do with your time and how to reconnect with your spouse during this new season. Several of the chapters brought me to tears as the subjects related to my own life with my grown children, and I found hope within the pages.

If you are wondering how to help your adult children through crisis, truly love and invest in others, or how to redefine your own life through God’s gifts and abilities He’s placed in you, this book will be the encouragement and perspective you need.

Broken into 30 chapters, each wrapped in Scripture, inspirational quotes, “Take-away Action Thoughts” and a strong prayer, Empty Nest, What’s Next? Parenting Adult Children Without Losing Your Mind fills an important void in the parenting market.

-Deborah Wuehler, Senior Editor, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, March, 2016

Also, another reviewer perspective:

As my children are growing up and our own nest is beginning to empty, I’ve realized that there are not as many resources for parents of adult children as there are for parents of little ones. This devotional book offers encouragement and advice for parents navigating their changing roles as their children become adults.

Michele Howe’s book contains thirty brief chapters, each with a story from her own experience or the experience of someone close to her; some encouraging words about dealing with the situation with the help of the Lord; and a short prayer. Each chapter begins with Scripture and an inspirational quote. At just four pages long, the chapters are perfect for a daily devotional. The subjects covered include those that we all face as our children grow up as well as some of the crisis type of situations that we hope we won’t have to face. Howe offers an encouraging perspective on redefining our changing roles, reinvesting in our marriage, allowing our adult children to make their own decisions and handle their own problems, and viewing them as peers and equals. She also deals with topics related to welcoming our children’s mates and navigating the new roles we’ll play when we become grandparents. Of course, not all the circumstances our adult children get into will be pleasant - for them, or for us - and Howe offers compassionate counsel to parents facing those more difficult situations or crises.  The unifying theme is that in every situation, we should be praying and trusting God first and foremost.

I’m in the earliest stages of the empty nest, so I gained encouragement from the devotional thoughts and prayers even though I haven’t come face to face with most of the situations yet. Having been challenged by this book to examine my heart and begin praying about my changing role as a mom, I hope to be better prepared as situations arise. For parents that find themselves in the thick of the empty nest experience and perhaps facing some difficult circumstances, this book offers a reminder to continually trust our adult children to the Lord. You won’t find step-by-step instructions on what to do when an adult child is in financial trouble, wants to move back home, or has turned away from their faith; but you will find encouragement and compassion, and some direction for how to start praying in those kinds of heart-breaking situations. For parents with adult children already in crisis, this book may offer some help, but it’s not intended to be a how-to guide with details for problem-solving.

This book was very helpful for me as I start the transition to an empty nest, and I warmly recommend it as a devotional guide to moms whose children are beginning to move into adulthood, or for couples to read together. Although not exclusively written to mothers, I think moms will more readily relate to the emotions and struggles expressed.  I also believe it would make a wonderful discussion and prayer guide for a small group of empty nest parents meeting to support each other.

-Product review by Kym Thorpe, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, March, 2016