Empty nest, now what? Emotional cost of kids moving out

Kids move an average of almost 400 miles away after leaving home, a new study shows. For many parents, that distance is more than just physical.

The survey conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Aura (https://auraframes.com), maker of digital photo frames, explored how parents navigate life once their children move out, whether it’s for college or a career.

While 55% expect a daily text from their child, only 41% expect a phone call, revealing a generational shift toward quicker, low-effort check-ins. However, the survey also found that only 19% of parents say they hear from their child multiple times a day, and 17% receive a message at least once a day.

Most of that communication happens through photos and memes — the most commonly shared content includes selfies or funny pictures (47%), internet memes (45%) and images of pets or family members (36%).

Even with so many ways to stay in touch, parents are doing most of the emotional heavy lifting, as 69% said they’re the ones who usually initiate contact.

Furthermore, when it comes to seeing their kids face-to-face, many parents are left wanting. While 30% expected weekly visits after their children moved out, only 18% say that actually happens — and 6% go as long as seven months without an in-person visit.

That may be why 85% of parents say receiving photos of simple, everyday moments like meals, pets or dorm rooms helps them feel more emotionally connected to their child, filling the gap left by physical distance.

The empty nesters surveyed revealed that texting is one of the primary ways that parents now communicate with their kids (67%), while video calls (30%), social media direct messages (15%), emails (5%) and voice notes (2%) are the least common. These shifting dynamics play out differently for moms and dads, underscoring how personal and varied the experience of “empty nesting” can be.

The study revealed that moms are twice as likely as dads to hear from their kids multiple times a day (22% vs. 10%), and are more likely to receive photos daily (20% vs. 14%). They also feel those moments more deeply, with 66% of moms saying photo sharing helps them feel emotionally closer to their child, compared to 55% of dads.

Meanwhile, dads reported going longer without in-person visits, averaging eight months compared to about seven months for moms. And when it comes to letting go, moms are also more likely to say they wish their child could live with them forever (35% vs. 20%)

“When a child moves out, it’s not just about the physical distance — it’s about the shift in all those small, everyday moments families once shared,” added Ryan Richards, Chief Revenue Officer at Aura. “This research shows how meaningful even the smallest forms of connection can be when families are apart and the importance of weaving those memories — via regular sharing of photos and videos — into daily life, as our customers do with their Aura frames.”