We clap our hands as they take their first toddling steps. We cheer from the sidelines and the auditorium seats. And then, one day…they spread their wings and fly. Are we ready for what’s next?
Stevensville author Meagan Francis is right there with parents facing the empty nest, and now she’s written a book about it. The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go And Embrace What’s Next (Sourcebooks, May 6) is an empathetic exploration of the big feelings that can come with this stage of life, with encouragement to step into the opportunities the “emptying” nest can bring.
Meagan is a familiar face to those who have seen her in the school pickup line and on the Twin City Players stage – and a familiar voice to those who remember “Jonny & Meagan Mornings” on 98.3 The Coast. But the mom of five kids ages 16-27 has also been a published writer for over twenty years, as well as the co-host of a podcast with a national following, The Mom Hour, which has been downloaded over 20 million times during its 10-year run.
Meagan sat down with MOTM Contributor Jonny Reinhardt for his podcast ‘Got Something to Say’, dropping next Monday. She talked about the changing stages of parenting and her journey through them:
“There’s this whole journey that you go through as a parent when you’re in the thick of it stage. It’s like your house is full of kids and diapers for a while and then just garbage everywhere. And your life just revolves around that. And then at some point, they start to leave. And sometimes that’s wonderful. And sometimes that feels terrible. And sometimes it’s a little bit of both.”
Meagan shared a couple of examples of moments that weren’t memorable at the time, but turned out to be iconic:
“At some point, you will not pick up your little kid and swing them into the shopping cart again… You don’t always know that’s the last time that you’re going to do that until later you look back and think, when was the last time? When was the last time I held his hand while we crossed the street? Or, when was the last time that teenager came in for a hug that I didn’t have to go seek them out… or whatever the thing is. If you’re in the thick of it as a parent, it doesn’t really occur to you that there will be a last time, but there always is. And that’s part of what this book is all about.”
When does that change in parental role and attitude happen? Meagan sees it as a process, not an event.
“I feel like the time when I started to shift into what this book is really about was around middle school. You know, that’s when you really start to realize, okay, my role is changing. My job description as a parent is changing. What my kids need from me is changing. And how do I rise to the occasion and also maybe carve out a tiny little bit of time for myself and a little bit of space for me now.?”
The book releases on May 6, when Meagan will be embarking on an all-day “virtual book tour”(details at her website: meaganfrancis.com.) And this month you’ll have five different local opportunities to engage with Meagan and get a signed copy of her book right here in Southwest Michigan:
- On May 8 10am – 2pm, stop into Bevy, Meagan’s new tea & creative supplies shop, inside the Yoga Life building at 2629 Cleveland Ave in St. Joseph, where Meagan will be selling & signing copies of The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read.
- On May 8, you can find Meagan at the St. Joe Wine Shoppe inside the The Market at 301 S. Main Street downtown St. Joseph. Meagan will be chatting with guests and signing books from 5-7 while shop owner Meredith George hands out samples from her curated selection of quality wines.
- On May 9, get ready for an ultra-nurturing experience to help you prepare for Mother’s Day weekend. Meagan and yoga instructor Lisa Segar will be cohosting an evening event including a restorative yoga class, meditation session, and a journaling workshop especially for moms. Afterward, participants can enjoy a cup of calming tea in the Yoga Life lobby while Meagan signs books. The $75 ticket includes the yoga class, meditation, journaling workshop, tea, and a $20 gift certificate to Bevy to treat yourself to a Mother’s Day gift. Sign up at yogalifemichigan.com/events.
- On Saturday May 17, head to Forever Books in downtown St. Joseph, where Meagan will be signing books from 1-3 PM.
- And on Sunday May 18 at 2 PM EST, Meagan will give a talk and sign books at Flourish Books & Plants in New Buffalo, hosted by owner Jocelyne Tuzynski (whose voice you’ll also recognize from 99.9 Y Country!)
