“I’m An Empty Nester”: Brooke Shields Broke Down In Tears Over Her Youngest Daughter Leaving For College, And People Are Really Emotional

Back in 2022, Brooke Shields left internet users emotional as she broke down over her eldest daughter , Rowan, leaving for her sophomore year of college.

In the now-viral video, Brooke admitted that her husband, Chris Henchy, drove Rowan to her school, Wake Forest University in North Carolina, on his own because she couldn’t bear the pain of driving away from campus.

“I just waved my daughter goodbye again, and I thought it would be easier the second time because she’s already been away, and she’s been with me all summer,” Brooke said through tears.

“It was just too painful,” she went on. “I don’t think I can go through the driving away from campus again. So if there’s anybody else going through this, we’re all in it together.”

“Oh, it’s so hard. I miss her already. Our babies… This is what you want. You raise them so that they leave you,” Brooke added.

Fast-forward to this week, and Brooke sadly experienced this pain again as her younger daughter, Grier, left for college, too.

Sharing a new video to her Instagram page, Brooke once again broke down into tears as she reflected on the pain of being an “empty nester.”

“OK, so, I sat here a year ago, and I watched my big girl leave, and I’m back on this porch, and I am now officially an empty nester?” Brooke said through tears.

“It’s not easy for the moms. I mean, it’s just so weird,” she went on, taking off her glasses to wipe away her tears.

“It was really hard. [Grier] started crying, and then I really started crying, and then I cried a good portion of the ride home. So anyway, um, I’m an empty nester. Wow,” Brooke added.

Fans quickly took to the comments to flood Brooke with supportive words, with several parents noting that they found her raw video incredibly relatable.

“Sharing your genuine feeling with everyone is the bravest thing , you’re an incredible mama, hang in there darling,” one person wrote.

“I have a 6 and 8 year old and fear this day. Stay strong!!” another person said. “I totally understand. It’s so bittersweet. Then every time they come home from college for a break, i go through it all over again,” one more parent added.

Moreover, several celebrities entered the conversation to console Brooke, too.

Debra Messing commented, “Oh Brooke it’s so so hard. It’s the end of an era and now you get to start a new chapter. But first you have to cry. A lot. I laid on my couch for 3 weeks and couldn’t speak to anyone. Be tender with yourself. It’s hard because it’s hard. All us empty nesters are sending you love.”

Similarly, Melissa Joan Hart wrote, “True words! It's so hard on the moms when our babies fly off but if we did our job, that's the goal.”

Kristin Chenoweth added, “I know how hard that must be. My bestie is going thru that now.”

Sending love to Brooke!

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