The Loud Quiet - Empty Nest Living

A blown tire turns into a bigger question… what do you actually owe your kids once they’re out of the house but still in school?Rick and Clancy find themselves on opposite sides of the same situation. One sees it as part of growing up… “that’s what savings is for.” The other sees it as simple… he’s still a student… you help.What follows isn’t a debate about money. It’s a look at the assumptions underneath the decision.They work through where their lines actually are… how those lines got there… and what’s changed in how they talk through it together. The conversation also brings in real factors that complicate things… grad school versus undergrad… past income… expectations… and even whether gender plays a role in how parents respond.They did make a decision. But the more useful part is how they got there… and the questions it raised for next time.📖 Our book is here! The Loud Quiet – Love, Laughter and Life in the Empty Nesthttps://amzn.to/4rpo7rA (Amazon affiliate link)Join the conversation with other parents working through the same questions:https://www.facebook.com/groups/theloudquiet🎧 Find all episodes, podcast apps, and YouTube links here:https://www.theloudquiet.comChapters00:00 Thank you for 10,000 downloads01:11 Tire Problem Sparks Question03:20 Should Parents Step In06:06 Assumptions About Responsibility09:48 How We Talk It Through Now14:39 Comparing Son vs Daughter16:32 “He’s Still a Student”24:03 Support vs Enabling25:40 Final DecisionWant to be a guest on The Loud Quiet – Empty Nest Living?Send Rick and Clancy Denton a message on PodMatch:https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/theloudquiethostDisclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and should not be taken as legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult with a qualified attorney, financial advisor, or other professional regarding your specific situation. The opinions expressed by guests are solely theirs and do not necessarily represent the views or positions of the host(s).

March is full in a different way when you’re in the empty nest.Rick and Clancy talk about birthdays that don’t carry the same weight, even while they still show up for their kids in bigger ways. That shift leads into a wider conversation about how life looks now... less centered on events, more on everyday rhythms.They also revisit spring break and travel... what they did then versus what they’re comfortable with now as parents of young adults. A recent trip to Austin brings that into real time, along with how awareness and perspective have changed.There’s also the usual March mix... St. Patrick’s Day, memories of March 2020, and how certain dates stick.And in the middle of all of it... March Madness, which still manages to take over the calendar.📖 Our book is here! The Loud Quiet – Love, Laughter and Life in the Empty Nest.Get your copy: https://amzn.to/4rpo7rA (Amazon affiliate link)If birthdays, travel, or even this time of year feels different in your empty nest, add your take to the conversation ...https://www.facebook.com/groups/theloudquiet🎧 Find all episodes, podcast apps, and YouTube links here:https://www.theloudquiet.comCHAPTERS00:00 March feels full already02:00 Birthdays in the empty nest04:30 Not wanting the spotlight07:00 Spring break then vs now10:30 March 2020 memories12:15 St. Patrick’s Day changes15:00 Travel stories and risk18:00 Austin trip and reaction21:30 March Madness takes overWant to be a guest on The Loud Quiet – Empty Nest Living?Send Rick and Clancy Denton a message on PodMatch:https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/theloudquiethostDisclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and should not be taken as legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult with a qualified attorney, financial advisor, or other professional regarding your specific situation. The opinions expressed by guests are solely theirs and do not necessarily represent the views or positions of the host(s).

Rick and Clancy talk about a different side of the sandwich generation.Not caregiving… life events.More funerals connected to parents and their friends.More celebrations connected to adult children.The conversation started after Clancy arrived at happy hour straight from a funeral for one of her mom’s close friends. It sparked a discussion about how empty nesters often find themselves moving between those two worlds.One part of life is filled with weddings, trips, and milestones with the younger generation. The other includes supporting parents as their circle of friends begins to shrink.Rick and Clancy also talk about how celebrations have changed over time. Bachelor parties are now trips. Proposals have become productions. Even high school dances involve elaborate “promposals.”They also look back at their own engagement story, when Rick surprised Clancy with a trip that led to a proposal in Costa Rica.Toward the end of the episode, Rick shares one simple piece of advice for supporting someone who has lost a parent. Acknowledge the loss… and when the time is right, invite them to share stories about the person they lost.📖 Our book is here! The Loud Quiet – Love, Laughter and Life in the Empty Nest. Get your copy at https://amzn.to/4rpo7rAChapters00:00 Funeral Clothes at Happy Hour02:30 The Life Events Sandwich Generation05:30 Supporting Parents Through Loss08:00 Lunch With Tanner11:20 Storytelling at Celebrations of Life13:20 Destination Bachelor Parties and Weddings16:00 Big Proposal Culture20:10 What to Say to Someone GrievingIf this season of life feels familiar, join the conversation in the community.https://www.facebook.com/groups/theloudquiet🎧 Find all episodes, podcast apps, and YouTube links here:https://www.theloudquiet.comWant to be a guest on The Loud Quiet – Empty Nest Living?Send Rick and Clancy Denton a message on PodMatch:https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/theloudquiethostDisclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and should not be taken as legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult with a qualified attorney, financial advisor, or other professional regarding your specific situation. The opinions expressed by guests are solely theirs and do not necessarily represent the views or positions of the host(s).

At 49, Tracy Smith booked a trip to Ireland with friends. Then she changed the flight. Then she changed it again. What began as a group vacation slowly turned into arriving in Iceland alone… with no clear plan home.In this episode, Tracy talks about how travel became the vehicle for reclaiming parts of herself she had set aside during years of parenting and managing daily life. The shifts were not dramatic. They started small. Taking a new job. Going to dinner instead of cooking. Letting her son walk home from school. Saying yes to herself in ways she had not before.She also reflects on something unexpected. At home, she often felt invisible in the routines of everyday life. Abroad, even as a stranger, she felt seen. That difference changed how she approached connection, belonging, and identity.Her memoir, The Purpose of Getting Lost, explores that evolution. In this conversation, she shares how solo travel reshaped her confidence, her relationships with her kids, and her understanding of what it means to choose yourself in midlife.Connect with Tracy:Substack:https://tracytravelseverywhere.substack.com/Website:https://tracysmithauthor.com/Book – The Purpose of Getting Lost (Amazon affiliate link):https://amzn.to/4shPDIeCHATPERS00:00 Rewriting Your Story02:30 The Trip That Kept Changing05:26 Realizing She Had Changed08:11 The Pre–Empty Nest Shift12:37 Fitting In vs Belonging16:22 From Tour Guide to Wedding Guest21:08 Building Connection After the Kids Leave24:53 Learning to Say Yes to Yourself26:45 What Her Kids Think29:06 Where to Find Tracy👋 If you’re figuring out who you are outside of the parenting role, this conversation continues inside the Facebook group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/theloudquiet🎧 Find all episodes, podcast apps, and YouTube links here:https://www.theloudquiet.comWant to be a guest on The Loud Quiet – Empty Nest Living?Send Rick and Clancy Denton a message on PodMatch:https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/theloudquiethostDisclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and should not be taken as legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult with a qualified attorney, financial advisor, or other professional regarding your specific situation. The opinions expressed by guests are solely theirs and do not necessarily represent the views or positions of the host(s).Chapters

The Olympics just wrapped… so Rick and Clancy stepped back into their own arena.Two years ago, they created the “Empty Nest Olympics” and ranked themselves in five events. This week, they revisit the same categories and ask: did we improve… or are we still stretching before the race?They talk through friendship momentum, hobbies that still haven’t happened, whether group dinners count as date nights, how working together has sharpened their communication, and why dreaming about the future feels different when you’re already in the middle of something big.There are a few gold medals.A couple near misses.And at least one event that still needs practice.It is light. It is honest. And it might start a conversation at your own kitchen bar tonight.CHAPTERS00:00 Empty Nest Olympics Returns03:00 Event 1: Maintaining and Making Friends08:00 Event 2: Discovering New Hobbies12:00 Event 3: Planning Dates and Trips18:00 Event 4: Communicating With Each Other23:00 Event 5: Dreaming About the Future👋 If this episode makes you want to compare medal counts with other couples, join the conversation here:https://www.facebook.com/groups/theloudquiet🎧 Find all episodes, podcast apps, and YouTube links here:https://www.theloudquiet.comWant to be a guest on The Loud Quiet – Empty Nest Living?Send Rick and Clancy Denton a message on PodMatch:https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/theloudquiethostDisclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and should not be taken as legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult with a qualified attorney, financial advisor, or other professional regarding your specific situation. The opinions expressed by guests are solely theirs and do not necessarily represent the views or positions of the host(s).