The Grief No One Talks About: Letting Go When Your Child Leaves for College

This is the episode I never thought I’d record—because no one really prepares you for this season. The college drop-off season.

For 18 years, our children live under our roof, within our reach, and under our protection. Then suddenly, it’s time to let go. To pack the car, walk across campus, and say goodbye. And while we celebrate their independence and all they’ve accomplished, there’s another truth we don’t talk about enough: the grief of letting go.

In this raw and emotional episode, I open up about my son Landon leaving for college and the tidal wave of feelings that come with it. I share why grief isn’t a clean, five-stage process—it’s messy, cyclical, and deeply human. And more importantly, I reveal the lessons grief has been teaching me:

• How grief pulls us into deep presence.

• Why it expands our emotional capacity and our ability to love.

• How it teaches us humility, acceptance, and love without attachment.

• And why grief is not just about endings, but about navigating life’s biggest transitions.

If you’re a parent in the midst of a goodbye, or anyone facing a season of loss and transition, this episode will meet you right where you are. Because grief doesn’t mean we’re weak—it means we loved deeply. And letting go doesn’t mean we love less, it means we’re learning to love differently.

👉 Tune in to feel seen, understood, and reminded that you’re not alone in this.

Want to figure out what's next for you? Join Liz for a 3 day LIVE experience on zoom. SOULBLAZER: https://www.lizsvatek.com/soulblazer

#grief #love #parenting #lettinggo #collegeboundChapters

#lifeafter40 #midlife #Parenting #adultchildren #collegeyears #motherhood

Understanding Grief: 03:04

Lessons from Grief: 6:45

My Personal Experience with Grief: 8:32

Embracing the Unknown: 9:33

Turning Love Inwards: 11:05