Davina McCall says fewer parents are suffering from ’empty nest syndrome’ these days, as rising house costs mean children stay at home for longer.
As young adults embark on their university journeys, the presenter finds solace in knowing they belong to the ‘boomerang generation’.
Now, after they initially leave, they tend to come back to stay in the parental home more frequently than before.
Davina revealed she has reached a ‘nice place’, where she sees her children often enough, but has her own freedom.
She shares three children with her second husband, Pet Rescue host Matthew Robertson: Holly, 23, a Newcastle University alum, Tilly, 21, recently returned from Australia, and Chester, 19.
Davina, 57, now engaged to hair stylist Michael Douglas, said she has no fears about Chester soon becoming the last to leave home.
She said: ‘I guess nowadays the proper empty nesting thing doesn’t happen as much as it used to. I feel like kids come back all the time.
‘My daughter went to Australia for three years. She’s coming back for at least four months, which we’re really excited about.
Davina, pictured with her daughters Holly (left) and Tilly (right), notes that fewer parents experience ’empty nest syndrome’ nowadays, as escalating housing costs lead children to live at home longer.
Davina’s perspective starkly contrasts with that of Gavin And Stacey star Larry Lamb, who admits to being profoundly impacted by ’empty nest syndrome’. Pictured: Larry with his son, George.
‘My daughter Holly lives in Manchester now, but she comes down quite often.
‘Chester is still very much at home. He has taken a gap year and will remain with us until at least age 20 before heading to university. It’s nice because I get to enjoy the kids’ presence while also relishing some regained freedom. I feel like I’m in a wonderful place.’
On the Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast, Davina further shared: ‘When Holly was born, I felt like, “I never want to work again – she has completely taken away all my ambition.”‘
‘But at the same time all through their childhood I thought the goal for me is that my children walk away from me and never look back – not because they hate me, but because they feel confident in themselves and they are looking forward to going out and living their lives.
‘I don’t want to have somebody who’s still clinging on to my ankle, worried, frightened, a bit scared of the world.’
But Davina’s feelings are in stark contrast to those of Gavin And Stacey actor Larry Lamb, who says he was deeply affected by ’empty nest syndrome’.
He tells the mental health podcast On The Mend, released tomorrow: ‘Just the other day I was thinking about this extraordinary moment when you say goodbye to your kids and they’re going off to start their own lives. You will never forget it.’
Lamb – dad to George, 45, Eloise, 26, and Eva-Mathilde, 22 – has even penned a poem about his pain, with the lines: ‘Can you hold back the tears? Not easy.
‘But you have to not make them feel guilty for doing what you’ve spent your life preparing them for.
‘But oh, the pain. Then the dam breaks, and the tears keep on coming, whenever you’re reminded of that moment.’
