Brooke Shields, the 59-year-old actress, recently became an empty nester when her daughter Grier, 18, left for college at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. Shields shared a tearful video on Instagram where she expressed her emotions about her daughter leaving and officially becoming an empty nester. She described the experience as weird and difficult, especially for moms, as she watched her daughter go off to college.
Shields recounted the emotional moment of dropping Grier off at college and the tears that followed, both from herself and her daughter. She shared a video captioned with the humorous message “Start the car! Last one off to college” as she said goodbye to Grier. The actress also mentioned that her older daughter, Rowan, had left for college in 2021, which she described as one of the worst experiences of her life, reflecting on the drive away from the university and seeing it disappear in the rearview mirror.
In a recent interview, Shields talked about how proud she was of Rowan as she saw her daughter bloom and grow in college. She mentioned that she noticed Rowan becoming her own person, engaging in meaningful conversations with friends and developing her individuality. Shields acknowledged that it was difficult to let go but expressed her desire to step back and allow her daughter to live her life while still wishing she could have her daughter with her always.
Shields also shared some advice for maintaining a lasting marriage, referring to her marriage to husband Chris Henchy, whom she married in 2001. She emphasized the importance of forgiveness in relationships but also stressed the need for open communication about any issues that arise. Shields highlighted the significance of not just forgiving but also discussing problems and ensuring that both partners work together to address and resolve conflicts in order to maintain a strong and healthy relationship.
As Shields navigates this new chapter in her life as an empty nester, she expressed gratitude for the time she spent raising her daughters and now looks forward to seeing them flourish and grow independently. Despite the challenges that come with their absence, Shields remains supportive and proud of her daughters as they embark on their own journeys in college. The actress reflects on the bittersweet nature of watching her daughters grow up and leave the nest but also acknowledges the joy of seeing them thrive and become their own unique individuals.
