They still need you.

Just... differently.

And after years of school runs, packed lunches, lifts, clubs, homework, sports days, WhatsApp groups and basically organising everyone else's lives, there's a strange moment when the kids start becoming independent and you suddenly have a bit more time.

And you're left thinking:

"Right... what the fuck do I do now?"

In this episode, Gem talks about the weird mix of freedom, guilt, relief and uncertainty that can come when your children grow up.

Because being needed less can feel brilliant — and a little bit heartbreaking.

It's also a chance to start asking yourself some questions:

What do I actually want?

What makes me happy?

Who do I want to spend my time with?

What have I been putting off?

And what would I do if I wasn't constantly thinking about everyone else?

You don't need to reinvent yourself.

You might just need to start finding the bits of yourself that have been buried underneath everybody else's needs for the last 15 years.

And maybe this is the time to start putting a bit more you back into your life.

Want to discover what Gem is building for the 40+ community across South Manchester and Cheshire?

Next Chapter Society

Come and have a look. You might find your next thing, your next experience, or simply a few more people to do life with.