Katie Holmes, and the celebrities who just learnt the bittersweet truth of motherhood.

As parents, you give everything to your children and one day, they leave you. 

This is the heart-breaking reality, but also the newfound freedom that all parents must confront at some stage, and even celebrities are not immune.

Over the last year or so, a wave of celebrity parents have found themselves navigating this bittersweet transition. 

Among them is Katie Holmes, who recently opened up about her daughter Suri Cruise's departure for college. In an interview with Town & Country, Holmes shared, "I'm proud of my daughter. Of course, I will miss the close proximity, but I'm really proud of her and I'm happy".

While excited for their children's future, many celebrities have been candid about the difficulty of letting go and the mixed emotions that come with this significant life change.

From Jessica Seinfeld's heartfelt social media posts to Brooke Shields' tearful confessions, these stars are showing that even in the spotlight, the empty nest syndrome is a very real experience. 

Let's take a closer look at how some of Hollywood's most famous parents are coping.

Katie Holmes

Image: Getty

Katie Holmes, known for her private nature, offered a rare glimpse into her personal life as she discussed Suri's departure for college. Suri will be leaving New York City to attend Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, known for its world-class interdisciplinary arts program.

Holmes said that while she'll miss being close to her daughter, she's proud of her and excited for her next chapter.

"I remember being this age, this time of beginnings," Holmes reflected. "It's exciting to learn about yourself, and I loved that time, so it makes me happy to think about it like that."

As she navigates living life without Suri in her home, Holmes says that she will need to rely on her network of friends. 

"The members of my book club are going to get annoyed hearing from me," she says "I'll be like, 'Let's meet once a week.'"

Brooke Shields

Image: Instagram

Actress Brooke Shields has been particularly open about her struggles with becoming an empty nester. With both her daughters now in college, Shields posted a video to her social media, talking through tears. 

"It's not easy for the mums," she said as she cried. "I mean, it's just so weird. So weird that she's not here."

"I thought I would be relieved, but I don't know. The thought of no longer living 24/7 in the house with these people that I've raised, it's just very foreign. It's like going to a totally foreign territory".

For Shields, the waterworks started when her daughter shed a tear, and from there she couldn't stop. 

"I cried a good portion of the ride home," she said. "Both of my baby birds have left the nest."

Shields says she is taking comfort in the fact that her daughters are attending the same university and will have each other for support. 

Jennifer Garner

Image: Getty

Jennifer Garner recently sent her eldest daughter, Violet Affleck, off for her college journey. The actress has been open about her emotions during this transition. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Garner shared, "Tell me you have a graduate without telling me you have a graduate," alongside a video of herself in tears at Violet's commencement ceremony.

"She's a self-starter," she gushed with pride. "I'm proud of her no matter what."

After dropping her eldest off she spent the day with her to other children Seraphina and Samuel. She has previously said, "I think teaching your kids anything is a lifelong job and certainly values are something―you can't just say, 'Here, have values!' You have to show them that you have values". 

So perhaps, while her in-home mothering to Violet is over, it's never truly a 'job done'. 

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth recently shared this photo of her son Moses. Image: Instagram

Gwyneth Paltrow, who experienced her daughter Apple leaving for college in 2023, described the process as "horrible" and "truly horrifying." As her son Moses graduated in 2024, Paltrow told The Late Late Show that she was feeling "not very well" about her "impending empty nest".

She joked that she would always be around at Hilary Swank's house, who was also appearing on the program, hanging with her children. 

"I'm going to be at Hilary's house – just hand me one (child)," she said.

Paltrow also shared a post for Moses' birthday, celebrating their mother-son bond. 

"From those days when it was always you and me to now, you are my lil ride or die. You are everything to me and I am so proud of you. Have the best day, my peanut."

Jessica Seinfeld

Image: Instagram

As the wife of comedian Jerry Seinfeld and a mother of three, Jessica Seinfeld found herself facing the empty nest this year. 

After dropping off their youngest son, Shepherd Kellen, at college, she took to social media to share her feelings. 

"Move-in weekend. All 3 baby birds have flown," she wrote, adding a message of solidarity to other parents: "Hope all of you first timers or last timers are holding up".

Debi Mazar

Image: Instagram

For Entourage actress Debi Mazar, becoming an empty nester coincided with turning 60, marking a significant life transition. She has two daughters, Giulia and Evelina, who look very much like their famous mother.

She shared her perspective with PEOPLE, saying, "At my age, I'm about to be an empty nester. And I'm going into a period where I've spent the past 23 years being on top of my children, and now I have more freedom to go work and not feel guilty".

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill

Image: Instagram

Country music stars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are parents to three daughters, Gracie, Maggie and Audrey. 

McGraw opened up about taking Gracie to LA to pursue her next chapter. 

"I drove [Gracie] across the country when she moved to L.A.," he said on a recent episode of Audacy's Rob+Holly. "When I dropped her off, I just lost it. And then I had to drive home all by myself and I was crying the whole time."

However, after six months of having time back on their hands, he said he and Faith had learnt to love it. 

"Now we kind of like having our time to ourselves and it's kind of honeymoon time again," he said.

Feature image: Getty/Instagram @brookeshields