- Gwyneth Paltrow, 52, has a penchant for reframing life transitions.
- First, it was “conscious uncoupling.” Now, she doesn’t want to be called an empty nester.
- Instead, the Goop founder is trying to think of herself and her husband, Brad Falchuk, as “free birds.”
Gwyneth Paltrow, who popularized the term “conscious uncoupling” in 2014 when she used it to describe her separation from Coldplay front man Chris Martin, has struck again.
This time, she has a different term to describe parents with college-age kids who are leaving the house.
She doesn’t want to be labeled an empty nester. Instead, she’s trying to think of herself and her husband, TV producer Brad Falchuk, as “free birds,” Paltrow told Vanity Fair.
“Empty nest is so demoralizing,” Paltrow said, “but if you say we’re free birds and you embody that, then you have this much more energized, optimistic” perspective.
Paltrow has two children, Apple and Moses, with Martin. Apple is at Vanderbilt University, while Moses is attending Brown University.
In 2018, Paltrow married Falchuk, who also has two kids — Isabella and Brody — from his previous marriage. Isabella is at Cornell University, while Brody is attending Yale.
Still, it’s not easy dealing with the emotions that come with becoming an empty-nester.
“There’s this weird, deep grief that comes with letting go, saying goodbye, and then calling into question your own purpose,” Paltrow said.
This isn’t the first time the “Shakespeare in Love” actor has spoken about this topic.
During the 11th In Goop Health summit in 2024, Paltrow said the idea of becoming an empty nester was “sort of putting things into turmoil” because, for a long time, her identity has been tied to being a mom.
“It’s kind of giving me a nervous breakdown, if I’m honest. I started being like, ‘Oh my God, and I need to quit my job and I need to sell my house and I need to move,'” she said.
Back then, the Goop founder also referred to the idea of being a “free bird.”
“Psychologist-astrologist Jennifer Freed said, ‘I would like you to think of it as being free birds instead of having an empty nest.’ And that resonates,” Paltrow said. “Instead of creating a sense of loss, what if I were free? And I could say yes to a girls’ weekend because I didn’t feel guilty. That kind of thing.”
Becoming an empty nester can lead to feelings of loneliness.
Psychologist Adam Borland suggests that parents prepare themselves emotionally for the impending transition instead of avoiding the issue, per Cleveland Clinic. Moreover, it’s crucial that parents remember that this is not the end of their relationship with their kids.
A representative for Paltrow did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular hours.
