At which stage of the family life cycle do parents become empty nesters and have time to focus on one another?

The stage of launching adult children begins when your first child leaves home and ends with the "empty nest." When older children leave home, there are both positive and negative consequences. If your family has developed significant skills through the family life cycle, your children will be ready to leave home, ready to handle life's challenges. Free from the everyday demands of parenting, you may choose to rekindle your own relationship and possibly your career goals.

The stage of launching adult children begins when your first child leaves home and ends with the " empty nest."