Hollywood star Brooke Shields shared an emotional moment that parents everywhere will be able to relate to. After sending her youngest child off to college, Shields broke down in tears upon realizing that she is now an “empty nester.”

Shields Breaks Down

Shields and her husband Chris Henchy, who she’s been married to since 2001, are parents to daughters Rowan, 21, and Grier, 18. After dropping Grier off at college, Shields took to Instagram to share an emotional video with her fans.

“I sat here a year ago and I watched my big girl leave – I’m back on this porch and I am now officially an empty nester,” began Shields, 59.

Shields explained that both Rowan and Grier attend the same college.

“They’re together at least, but it’s really not – it’s not easy for the moms,” she said as the tears started to flow. “I mean, it’s just so weird. It’s so weird that she’s not here.”

Wiping tears from her eyes, Shields recalled the actual moment of saying goodbye to Grier.

“It was really hard and then she started crying,” she recounted. “I really started crying and then I cried a good portion of the ride home.”

“I’m an empty nester. Wow,” she added while fighting back tears.

Shields captioned her video by writing, “Both of my baby birds have left the nest.”

Check out the full video below.

Related: Brooke Shields Reveals Why She Thinks Her Late Mother Was ‘In Love’ With Her

Shields Was ‘Not Really Prepared’ To Become An Empty Nester

Shields had admitted back in May that she was “not really prepared” to become an empty nester and send her youngest off to school.

“You think you’re ready for it, and then people say, ‘Oh you’re gonna have freedom.’ I just… I don’t know. I’m not really prepared for it,” she said at the time while appearing on Good Morning America.

However, Shields went on to say that her daughters don’t go to school far away. She also acknowledged that they would “come back,” describing it as being like a “rubber band.”

“Our girls are so close to us,” she explained. “They’re attached in the right way.”

Check out that interview below, with the relevant portion beginning around the 2:56 mark.

Related: Dean Cain Gets Apology From Brooke Shields For Not Making Their College Relationship ‘Easy’

Shields Is Close To Her Daughters

In another interview this week, Shields opened up about how close she is to both of her daughters.

“The three of us have very distinct big personalities,” Shields told People Magazine. “One is a golden retriever puppy. Rowan bounces around. She’s got energy. She’s funny. The other is an Abyssinian cat. Grier is very poised. She’s pristine and put together.”

Shields went on to say that she’s been in “awe” watching her daughters grow into young women.

“All of a sudden, they’re not yours anyone,” she said. “When you realize they are their own human beings, you get to meet them again. To have them reveal themselves to you, it’s a new type of relationship. I didn’t mold them but I protected them enough so that they could become who they are and I got out of the way.”

After raising her daughters right, Shields sees herself as both their mother and their friend.

“I feel if you’ve done it in a healthy way, you start to revel in these people that you actually like,” she said. “They go away and then they come back and I now get such a kick out of watching and listening to them.”

Becoming an empty nester certainly isn’t easy, but it’s a reality that all parents must eventually face. Please keep Shields in your thoughts as she navigates this new time in her life!

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