GOLDENS BRIDGE, N.Y. - When Ali Flynn became an empty nester in September of 2024, it wasn’t the sight of her twins leaving for college that made it real.
Instead, she realized something in the produce aisle. While shopping for groceries, the mother of four stopped and stared at a head of broccoli, suddenly unsure how much to buy.
“I started crying,” Flynn remembered.
The broccoli wasn’t the point, of course. It was the flood of emotions that come with raising teenagers and watching them grow up — feelings Flynn believes should never be handled alone. Now she’s sharing that message with the world.
Her book, Hang in There, Mama! Encouragement and Advice for Moms Raising Teens and Beyond, is now out in hardcover and e-book through Wiley Publishing. Flynn hopes it serves as a steady companion.
“A lot of moms isolate themselves. So by providing a book, it’s like that trusted friend you’re getting advice from,” she said.
Writing Through the Pandemic
The inspiration began during Covid. Flynn, a former English teacher turned stay-at-home mom, found herself returning to the keyboard during lockdown. “I decided to start writing again and sent work into online publications,” she remembered.
One step led to another, and social media became her outlet. As her following grew, so did her desire to create something more cohesive. She began collecting her encouraging posts and thoughts — small moments she calls affirmations and “little vignettes” that remind moms they’re not alone.
Three Stages of Motherhood
The book is organized into three parts. First comes navigating the motherhood journey itself. “The journey is the path we are all on as mothers,” said Flynn. “The journey takes each mom through many seasons of parenting and motherhood, and as moms, we watch our kids grow up. But we also experience ourselves as mothers growing up.”
Part two tackles what she calls the “nitty gritty.”
“It’s all about raising teens,” Flynn said.
She shares stories from her own life, speaking not as a clinical expert but as a fellow traveler. Sharing, she hopes, helps take other moms off their islands.
“We need to support each other and to give the support of knowing I’m with you. I’ve been there. I’ve gone through this. You’re not the only one,” she said. “It’s going to be ok. You’re going to get through it.”
Finally, part three explores becoming an empty nester.
“I share a lot of stories about those emotions of walking back in the house and it’s empty and quiet,” she said. “There aren’t kids in and out the door anymore, and there isn’t a mess.”
Letting Go and Cheering On
For Flynn, the transition brought both freedom and identity questions. “It made me question my identity and who I am,” she revealed. “So I needed to find myself.”
That journey, she said, requires letting your children grow beyond you. “You have to allow them to follow their own path,” she explained, “not the path we envisioned for them.”
And when her girls come home, the gratitude hits hard. “Yes, there were days that were hard, but my kids made it easy to be a mom,” she assured.
She also made sure they were comfortable with the book before publishing. “Any piece related to them, I had them approve,” Flynn said. Fortunately, support wasn’t hard to come by. “I think they are really proud of me — especially since I’m being honest, vulnerable and sharing my heart,” she said. “All so I can support other moms.”
Flynn hopes the book meets mothers exactly where they are — exhausted, hopeful, frustrated, or somewhere in between. “There’s always a new day tomorrow,” she concluded. “There’s always hope, and you can always find support. You just have to keep positive and moving forward.”
To Learn More
To learn more about Ali Flynn, visit www.hangintheremama.com or find her on Instagram or Facebook.
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