Thirty million mothers between 40 and 60 years old are about to face childless households for the first time in decades. For some women it is a lonely and confusing time; but for the vast majority, it's a journey of joy and discovery. Through intensive and wide-ranging original research, Carin Rubinstein reveals how and why some mothers thrive and others do not. She breaks the post-motherhood launch down into three stages - grief, relief and joy. If a woman makes it through to the final stage, friendships blossom, work thrives and she develops a renewed sense of confidence and well-being. While in many instances, increased time together hastens the end of a struggling marriage, most women discover their relationships improve when children leave.