Empty Nest, Full Life: Discovering God's Best for Your Next

by Jill Savage

How to Thrive After Your Kids Leave Home

IT’S HAPPENING! You weren’t always sure you’d get here, but the kids grew up and are surviving—more or less successfully. But what now?! If you’re like most moms, you’re caught between grief and delight, and full of questions, loose ends, hopes, and regrets. Empty nesting can be a disorienting time, but it can also be the best time of your life.

Jill Savage, an empty-nest veteran, offers you

WISDOM for the murky waters ahead. Teaching you what you need to let go of and hold on to

ENCOURAGEMENT for when you’re feeling confused and discouraged. Full of stories and new insights, you’ll find your spirits lifted and hope renewed.

IDEAS for when you don’t know "What’s next?" Jill offers loads of practical ideas for coping and thriving in this encore season.

Genres: Parenting, Christian, Nonfiction, Christian Living, Inspirational, Audiobook

279 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 6, 2019

Reviews

[Monica H (TeaandBooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When my son was little, I remember hearing this phrase, "The days are long but the years are short." As I reflect on my son turning 18 a couple of months ago, I believe it is true. The years sure did go by quickly. If you are in a similar position as I am, you may want to read Empty Nest, Full Life by Jill Savage. This book covers a lot of aspects of how to live a better life after your kids leave home and how to love them best as adult children.


Empty Nest, Full Life is divided in to two parts: Let Go! and Hold On! In the first part, Savage talks about how to let go of expectations, guilt, opinions, traditions, your child's problems and idols. She goes in to detail in these chapters on some concepts that I hadn't really thought about. I could relate to so many stories she shared. Reading Empty Nest, Full Life kind of felt like having a mentor woman take me under her wing and to give me some great advice over coffee/tea. The second part, Hold On!, encourages empty nesters to think about the new mission field they have, new passions to explore, new friendships to form, a marriage to nurture, and a relationship with God to continue to grow. It is all about looking forward to the good things you still have in your life and the good things to come.


Empty Nest, Full Life is a great book to read if you are heading towards an empty nest like I am or if you are a recent empty nester. Savage also encourages readers to get a group of other women together to read the book and discuss it together. There is a great discussion section in the back of the book for a book club to use. Reading this book alone was quite helpful to me but I think having a group of other ladies or a small group to discuss this book with would make it even better. I so appreciated how honest and real Savage is in this book. She shares her heart openly and then she encourages you to live your best "after kids" life. She also encourages parents to have good boundaries in their families to have the best relationships going forward. I so appreciate that having grown up in a family with boundaries that weren't good. Throughout Empty Nest, Full Life, she reminds readers that their lives aren't over and this is truly a new and wonderful season. I especially like that she quotes from Isaiah 43:18-19 in several places. This is just the book I needed and I plan to keep it to refer back to over the next few years.


I received this book from Moody Publishers. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offered excellent advice for new Empty-Nesters. The author covers a number of relevant topics, including new friendships, new relationships with children, new interests and activities, marriage, and sex during the Empty Nesting years. This would be a great book for adult Bible studies or small groups geared towards the late forties and fifties age range.

Although this book is clearly aimed at a devoutly Christian market, it has excellent advice for all people in this age range. Though I am a Christian, I would have liked to have read this advice and words of wisdom without all the Christian scripture and jargon. I think with some revisions, this book could have appealed to a very wide audience. I have not read anything else like it on the secular market, and it clearly fills a niche.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with great advice, wisdom, and God's Word, "Empty Nest, Full Life," is just the book I needed to read as I prepare to send my firstborn off to college.

If you read only one book about life after the kids fly away from home, this is the book to read!

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this quick little book. I found a lot of helpful advice but also thought it would be very helpful for my mother in law who has had an empty nest for over 20 years. It’s great encouragement for people who have kids going to college or have had an empty nest for a while and now have grandkids and want to be fostering a good relationship with all their family members.

[Shannon Adams plechas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, I was disappointed by this book. It seemed like a bible study for a group of women who had never worked outside the home. There's nothing bad about this - I'm sure it's awesome for those women.

There were so many platitudes about birds and fleeing. Ugh. If I read one more example about how a kid changed their hair once they moved out, I thought I was going to barf.

The guiding questions that helped the reader address what came next could be from any self-help book. It seemed the audience for this doesn't know themselves at all.

There's nothing wrong with that; I just wish that was part of the title, so I could have saved myself time.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were some good tidbits that could apply to your children or partner.

[Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jill Savage's Empty Nest, Full Life: Discovering God's Best for Your Next is just the book for moms entering the next step of their lives; when their children become adults and move out of the family home. How does a mom live in a healthy emotional way with her adult kids? How can she think truthfully about her life raising children now that they are no longer children? How can she release control and unhelpful expectations of her kids, which will only impact the parent-child relationship negatively?

Jill discusses these issues in the first section of the book, called "Let Go." In section two, "Hold On," she covers the life segments of what she calls the "encore" portion of life. What does the mom of adults children have ahead? A new mission field (career or volunteer), friendships, a deeper marriage, a closer relationship with God, and more. There truly is much to look forward to and delight in!

Get a copy of this exceptional book. If you are an empty nester or will be some day, Jill's book can encourage you, teach you, and help you to start (and finish!) well on this new season of life.

I received a copy of this book from The BlogAbout Blogger Network. All opinions are my own.

[Jeanne Takenaka · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mama who's close to launching her chickies into the world, I found Jill Savage's book to be very helpful. In it, she shares personal stories and struggles, which helped me relate to her message. I enjoy her writing style and found this book really easy to read. And, so practical! She covers about every aspect of entering the empty nest years that most of us will face. Each topic is well-thought-out and important. And she shares many great suggestions for thriving in the encore season of life. This book is one I'm recommending to friends in this stage of life. It's that good. If you're about to enter or have entered the empty nest years, pick up this book and glean from Savage's wisdom.

[Patti Pilkington Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for pre-empty-nesters or those already in that season. Jill's authenticity and encouragement is evident throughout the book and offers real life stories and suggestions in transitioning into this season. "Pray, don't say." Pick it up!

[Hannah Barney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read, great info, fun to go through with a group of empty-nester friends. It wasn't really new to me; I think I've felt & experienced most of it in the past 9 years since my nest started shrinking. It was good confirmation and helpful reminders.

[Mary Vogelsong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Empty Nest, Full Life: Discovering God's Best for Your Next, by Jill Savage

Jill Savage compares the empty nest years to the encore of a musical. You get to pick your favorite parts to play again, she says. You can enjoy being a grandparent without having to stay up all night with a fussy kid. It should work this way in theory, but I have a friend who is single-parenting the son of her 30-something-year-old mentally challenged son. She loves her grandson dearly, but raising him was not what my friend had envisioned for her retirement. Life isn’t so cookie-cutter neat as to reward every parent with an encore season, especially for the economically depressed or those who deal with chronic illnesses.

Even so, Empty Nest explores many relevant concepts from a Biblical viewpoint. Savage writes candidly about her Christian family grappling with the news that one of their sons called to tell them he is gay, and another son who called to say his girlfriend was pregnant. When you reach the empty nest stage of life, it is time to let some things go and grab hold of other things. One of the things you may need to let go is the idol of what other people think of you. When your adult children call with news that is upsetting, is what others will think of you one of the first things you consider?

Savage suggests holding onto relationships. She says your kids probably already know where you stand on moral issues, and the color of their hair isn’t important, even in family photos. Give them words of affirmation. Don’t enable, but love.

The most encouraging part of Empty Nest for me is seeing that although Jill Savage has spent years in ministry, she admits to the same types of struggles and disappointments I might have in my own family. Yet, she is not defeated by it. She isn’t bogged down with self-blame, but she is carrying on with what God has called her to do.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

We spend our lives nurturing our children giving them everything we have. Then in a blink of an eye, they grow up, move away and start their own lives. How dare they? What is left of us? Who are we? What do we do now that our children are grown? How do we move on to the next chapter of our lives?

In this fabulous book by Jill Savage, she not only answers all of our questions, but she does it from a biblical perspective. When I read this line “Our kids need an imperfect role model because they are imperfect themselves. God used your imperfections to perfect you and your kids.”, I took a deep sign and thought “ I never thought of it that way”. Chapter after chapter I was highlighting key messages for myself like “No guilt trips, no sarcastic comments, no underhand manipulating to get your way. Straightforward, honest communication surrounded with love and grace will give your changing relationship its best opportunity”. I learnt how to deal with my empty nest but also how to deal with my now adult children. This is one book I will reference again and again to give me comfort and strength in this new season of life. It couldn’t have come at a more perfect time in life. Do yourself a favor, pick up this book, grab a highlighter and get ready to transform yourself from an empty nest to a full life. Thank you to Moody Publishers, Jill Savage and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy and review this book.

[Jolene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jill Savage has once again brought her experience, faith and word of God together and intertwined them in another magnificent resource called “Empty Nest, Full Life”. Her genuine, authentic pouring out of her heart makes this season real for all who engage in reading her book.

I love the “Satan’s Lies/God’s Replies” chart. I loved the section on letting go of traditions. We actually had to do that way before the empty nest stage. I totally own, and was grateful for confirmation and affirmation about the difference between parenting adult children and young children. I have one out of school and working. The other is just about to start college. Both live at home. I hardly see my son. My daughter doesn’t yet drive so I she’s with me a lot.

I am moved and motivated by Jill’s constant empathy, encouragement and empowering words that there is plenty of life in us yet. While there is life in this body I am armed with truth, support and love of a great sister tribe. I will go forward and do great and mighty things all to God’s Glory. Read the book. You too will catch Jill’s enthusiasm, feel her heart, and be inspired to keep going and have a great life after raising and launching kids. Enjoy! Here’s to a full life even with an empty nest!

[Patty Betts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eye opening, but I'm not fond of formulas and believe the Spirit of God must lead the heart of each child and situation. The first few chapters were great input on experiences she's gone through but the rest of the book I felt was about doing this and not doing that, which I'm not a fan of. Overall, it was a good read.

[Maryann · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

[Kalee-BooksAndBlather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gleaned good information from the first half of Jill Savage's Empty Nest, Full Life. She describes ways of accepting your child's graduation from high school. Not using their (the child's) accomplishments in their 20s as your own trophies. Letting go of guilt from what we didn't accomplish or do right when they were little. The second half of the book is more for parents who are so wrapped up in parenting that they can't figure out what else to do with their time. It's meant to give ideas to parents of what to do to continue to have purpose and worth.

The first half was very well done however I'm only giving it three stars due to how many times I cringed when Savage discusses her relationship with her gay son Evan. While she does elaborate on how important is it to accept one's child (eventually). "When we don't agree with our kids, we can still accept them." "Evan knows we love him no matter what. He's ours. He belongs. We love him unconditionally--even if we don't agree with every decision he makes". So with that level of condescension he proceeded to get married to a woman and later divorces. Had they accepted him in the first place (when she indicates he was a middle schooler) his ex-wife clearly wouldn't have gotten hurt and neither would've her son. Yes, I understand she's using this as an example in the "Let Go Of Opinions" section of her book but clearly this was a "Let Go Of Expectations" for this family. They expected him to be straight and it isn't what they got. I really wish that she hadn't used Evan as an example. Instead, their lack of acceptance is frustrating and incredibly hard to read at times.

[Ginger Hudock · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Christian mother of two adult children, I was the perfect target reader for this book. My youngest child graduated from college a year ago and I felt strange. As Jill Savage suggested, I was struggling somewhat with my purpose now. I have also been sad because neither of my children is walking with the Lord.
This book is very encouraging to Mom’s. Although Savage has had a successful ministry to both mothers, and now to spouses, she and her husband do not have perfect children or have they had a perfect relationship. One of my favorite quotes is this near the beginning of the book: “God used your imperfections to perfect you and your kids.”
There are chapter about how to relate to your adult children, about your marriage, and about how God may use you in this next season of life. There is also a discussion guide included and this book would be fantastic for a book club or Bible Study group. I highly recommend this book.

[Tracye Goad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jill's newest book fills in a much needed gap on a very important topic. Whether your nest is fully empty, with some birds out and others still in, or looking towards this upcoming transition, THIS book is a must read. Her writing is full of great wisdom in helping navigate the full range of emotions this season brings. She's given me so much to think about in regards of where to hold on and where to let go. Packed full of spiritual guidance, practical solutions and constant self reflection questions that help you work through the countless emotional changes. So very grateful for how her book is helping me to make this adjustment with better clarity, emotional stability, practical guidance and a deeper spiritual walk. It's been such a comfort in knowing ALL the emotions are normal and reading it is like having a mentor walking beside you. Sometimes she writes hard truths and sometimes great encouragement, but that's the making of a great book you will reach for time and time again.

[Crystal Arzu (Bookish in Midlife) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being a midlife almost empty nester, I am always looking for books on the topic. Midlife women have a unique set of circumstances, life changes, job & family dynamics, friendships. When the kids leave the roost that bring in an entire difference set of challenges
Empty Nest Full Life by Jill Savage covers a lot of these issues. Difficulties with her adult children, and her own future needs. The book is written with a biblical tone which I appreciated. The chapters close with a word of truth, and action, and prayer. Although my personal midlife situation isn’t similar to the authors, I gained insight into other areas in my life that need “tweaking”.
Overall, I would recommend this book for anyone that is looking for midlife clarity and direction.

[Tracy Condie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It can be hard to let go and let those little birds leave the nest to fly on their own. This book has been so very cathartic by reminding me that parents help build the foundation and it is up to the kids to build their own structure. They might need to renovate or they might choose a style that is complete different from my own but that is because they are their own people. A wonderful reminder to give it to God and to zip one's lips unless asked for advice. Perfect for creating new goals and for figuring out a new flight pattern now that we have all moved into a new chapter and for the kids, well they have starteed a new book to author for themselves. While this was written by a mom for moms it is really a good book for both parents to read and discuss together.

[Mary Tally · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Empty Nest, Full Life” is an easy, quick read which offers plenty of practical tips to help readers make this season of their life one of abundance, not scarcity. The first six chapters focus on areas to consider “letting go”, and the remainder of the book suggests things to “hold on” to. The author concludes: “This is your reprise. You still get to sing some of the songs you loved singing like nurturing, encouraging, cheering on, mentoring, teaching, loving, and listening. Sometimes you’ll get to sing those to your adult kids or grandkids, and sometimes you’ll get to reprise those songs with others that God sends your way… This is where we get to leverage all we’ve learned and offer it to the world in a fresh new way.” This excites me!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I approached this book with an open mind. My husband and myself have been empty-nesters, almost three years now. Although, our college daughter, the last to leave is only an hour away and we see her often. As she prepares for law school away, next year, I find myself struggling. This read helps enlighten us about our relationships with our college daughter to our married children, their spouse and our grandchildren. I take away a few things that we as parents can do to help our relationships grow in and beyond our home. Great read!

I received a copy from the publisher. All reviews are of my own.

[Another_Book_to_Ponder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts out with a lot of self reflection questions. This makes sure you know all about yourself and how you can move toward sharing yourself with others.
Chapter one starts in on Letting Go of Expectations... moves on to letting go of guilt, opinion, traditions, your child's problems and Idols. Wow! Whew...
Part 2 is all about grabbing hold of Your new mission field, new passions, new friendships, your marriage and God's Hand! I really feel this book will help parent's get through some of these areas!


I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

[Paige Redwine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several friends that have kids in college encouraged me to read this book. It addresses the necessary changes in parenting methods that support independence and healthy relationships with adult kids. Our first born is heading to college in August and our second son is in high school. I'm helped greatly for my interactions with our 18 year old by the author's seasoned advice. I also feel more prepared for the coming years for our 16 year old.

The second half of the book isn't as helpful to me right now since it gives a vision for purpose and meaning for the years when our kids will be truly out of our house. It's encouraging, but not as applicable as the first half of the book.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has the potential to be an excellent resource for parents who are finding themselves at a crossroads in life…the kids are raised—what now? There’s a great deal of spiritual guidance and encouragement for parents to determine what to hold on to and what to let go of, building relationships with their adult children, and not letting this change steal your joy. This is such an underrepresented topic and feel that it could be easily geared toward the secular market and still offer wisdom and inspiration for a wider cross section of empty nesting parents. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to write a review.

[LuAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Empty Nest, Full Life is aimed right at me! Both my children will be heading off to college in the fall. It helped me identify what was bothering me about them leaving. The book had very practical advice on how to relate to my kids as adults. It had topics about relating to our spouse, our friends and ourselves now that the kids are out of the house.

The book was divided into two main parts. Part 1 was about letting go. It talked about letting go of our expectations, guilt, opinions, traditions and your child's problems. I personally find that letting go of guilt and my child's problems to be the hardest for me. The advice in these chapters were very helpful to me.

Part 2 was about holding on or grabbing hold of. Some of the topics were grabbing hold of new passions and friendships. Holding on to your marriage and God's hand. I found the topics about friendship and marriage to be the most helpful to me.

This book is aimed at a Christian mom. I highly recommend.

I received a free copy from Netgalley for an honest review.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jill hit the nail on the head with this one! Navigating this new season of life is now a not easier with her down to earth advice cradled with scripture. I love how she encourages us to look forward with purpose into these next years. The companion notebook is especially helpful in giving you a place to put your thoughts on what matters the most. Great job as always Jill!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I wasn’t sure I needed this book because I thought I was coping pretty well with my empty nest, it had been highly recommended by a friend. I found it full of interesting information and Christian based solutions and suggestions. It is very easy to read. I’ve added a couple of her other books to my reading list. I recommend to anyone entering this stage of life.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

The intro was a little slow going, so much so that I nearly stopped listening. That would have been regrettable. Jill Savage candidly shares the wisdom she's learned about how the empty nest affects marriage, parenting, friendships, spiritual life, career (or not), hobbies, and more. Each chapter includes some well considered, practical questions for reflection, either solo or with your spouse. The hard copy would be worth having for access to those many questions.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have given this book a higher rating if I read it instead of listening in Audible. The narrator was very annoying, often sounding very condescending. There were some good nuggets to be gleaned. However, I think the people who would most benefit from this book would not even be aware they needed to read it.