The Journey of Love and Letting Go as an Empty Nester
As we get ready to turn the page on a new year, you may be facing the transition of your child graduating from high school this spring. I remember the pride and joy of that time for my boys, but I also remember it being a really hard year for me as a mom. 😩
So when I connected with Karen Jolly in Jenna Kutcher’s Goal Digger Podcast Facebook group, I knew I wanted her as a guest on the show.
Karen is the author of “The Journey of Love and Letting Go: Navigating Your Child's Senior Year with Grace” And we talk about her path to writing her book and encouragement for you if your child’s senior year isn’t going as you planned.
Plus Karen shares self-publishing tips especially for you in the empty nest season and also what’s working well for her to market your book.
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Therapy Through Writing
Karen sheds light on the therapeutic journey that led to her writing “The Journey of Love and Letting Go.” She candidly talks about how she found solace in writing during a tumultuous time in her life—when her eldest daughter was a senior in high school.
“I felt like I was going completely insane,” Karen confesses. She experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, vacillating between excitement and profound sadness. Yet, through conversations with other moms, she discovered that such feelings were not only common but also normal.
Acknowledging this shared experience, Karen wrote her book to offer support to other moms navigating this emotional terrain.
“You're going to get through this. You’re going to thrive,” she assures. Karen’s message is one of empowerment: it's okay to feel deeply as children transition into new life phases.
Every Journey is Unique
In our conversation, we reflect on the unique journeys each child embarks upon—even within the same family. Karen describes her own experiences with two children, underscoring how individual aspirations and paths can differ widely.
“The best thing you can do is let go of your own expectations,” Karen advises. She stresses the importance of allowing children to follow the life paths they’re meant to take, whether those align with parental hopes or not.
Karen encourages parents to embrace prayer and patience during these times, drawing inspiration from her mother-in-law’s wisdom: “Stay on your knees.” This poignant reminder reinforces that sometimes, parents need to step back and trust in the bigger picture.
Encouragement for Moms with a Desire to Write
While interviewing Karen, she shared advice for moms who are aspiring writers, juggling dreams of authorship with the demands of motherhood.
Karen chose to self-publish her book via Amazon’s KDP platform, driven by a desire to share her experiences with others who might benefit. She emphasizes the importance of taking that first step, no matter how daunting it may seem.
“I didn’t take a class,” Karen admits, encouraging listeners to dive in and learn through doing. She stresses that making mistakes is part of the process and that these mistakes won’t harm anyone.
A recurring theme in our discussion is the need for self-confidence and a supportive community. “Surround yourself with people who are cheering you on,” Karen advises. She underscores the importance of having a network—whether it’s family, friends, or a social media group—that can offer encouragement and accountability.
Karen also shares the importance of getting rid of self-doubt as an aspiring author. “Get those negative thoughts out of your head because that is not from God.”
The Power of Speaking Engagements and Social Media to Market Your Book
Having a robust book launch strategy is important. As a social media strategist by profession, Karen suggests a 90-day plan for authors:
First 30 Days: Share the “why” behind your book. Explain why it’s important and why readers need it. Plan ahead. Don’t wait until the book is in hand to start marketing. Build excitement early on.
Second 30 Days: Issue a call to action. Encourage readers to buy your book without overtly pushing for sales. Research and join book launch teams. Learn from other successful launches and implement those strategies for your own book.
Final 30 Days: Celebrate and honor your readers and the journey. Highlight reviews and successful milestones.
Karen also speaks to the value of live interactions. Engaging in speaking events, such as church mom’s groups, allows authors to connect directly with potential readers (and buyers).
Final Words of Wisdom
“Just take the first step. Don’t hesitate. If you have something to say, get it out there.”
Great advice. Be sure to check out her book and website for more resources!
Thanks so much, Karen, for serving us so well!
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