My 3 kids are all enrolled at the same college. Knowing they're together helps, but I'm still struggling with my empty nest.

Cheryl Maguire, the mother of three kids, is still adjusting to the empty nest life now that her three children are all enrolled at the same college. While she finds joy in having her kids together at Fordham University in New York, she is struggling with the emptiness and loneliness that comes with her children being far away. Maguire has been trying to mentally prepare for this transition for the past year, but nothing seems to fill the void left by her children's absence.

She even went on her first solo trip to ease her transition, but the silence and lack of singing left her feeling empty. Cleaning her children's rooms did not help either, as it only intensified the stillness. Maguire found comfort in listening to music, which she believes helped her feel connected to her children. Talking to other empty nesters also helped her cope with the transition, and she plans to organize an empty nest gathering with her friends to share their experiences.

Maguire's youngest daughter adjusted well to college life, as she was already familiar with the campus from previous visits. This has reduced the homesickness that many students experience. Maguire's husband has a positive outlook on the situation and encourages them to let their children "fly." To help her focus on the positives, Maguire has asked her children to send pictures of them on their first day of classes, which has brought her some comfort.