The Holderness Family Podcast

At first, I thought I was doing great with college drop-off (I even bragged to my girlfriends about making it two whole days without tears!) But the adrenaline has started to wear off. Suddenly, weekends feel hollow without our family’s Sunday routine. Turns out it’s not just the drop-off that’s tough, it’s the days after when the quiet gets louder. That’s why Penn and I are so grateful to sit down with New York Times bestselling author, podcaster, and speaker Gretchen Rubin, one of my favorite voices on happiness and habits this week. Gretchen says this season isn’t an “empty nest,” it’s an open door—a time of possibility, connection, and, yes, some grief mixed with growth. We talk about how to cope when the wine and cake aren’t cutting it, how to replace old family traditions with new ones, and why weekends can feel especially heavy. Gretchen also gives us permission to create new rituals, like her idea of a buffercation—a post-drop-off trip that softens the blow.We also dive into parenting identities,