Ed Burns' Secret to Navigating the Empty Nest: A Guide for Parents

Ah, the joys of becoming an empty nester! Ed Burns has officially joined the club this year, waving goodbye to his two adorable birds, Grace, 20, and Finn, 18, as they bravely spread their wings for college life. And while the winds of change may feel a tad chilly, Ed, the charming actor and filmmaker, has a plan—because what better way to soften the blow than to keep your schedule busier than a bee in a flower shop?

“It’s funny,” he chuckles, referring to the elaborate dance of distraction he and his supermodel wife, Christy Turlington, have orchestrated. “We both made sure to stay incredibly busy this fall, so we wouldn’t really have to face it.” But let’s be honest, navigating the bittersweet transition of kids flying the coop is a little like trying to eat spaghetti with a spoon—it’s tricky, messy, and comes with a side of nostalgia. “Obviously, we’re so happy the kids are happy,” he muses, “but you can’t help but miss them like crazy.” And who can blame him?

The good news? Ed’s throwing himself into his passions, beginning with his debut novel, A Kid from Marlboro Road, which he describes as a “bucket list” moment as he tiptoes into his 60s. Imagine the sheer excitement, the glittering possibilities of adulthood, sprinkled with a few gray hairs! “I had never thought about writing a novel,” Burns admits, “until the pandemic hit, and suddenly the world was my blank canvas.”

If the pandemic was a filter for existential reflection, Ed took it and ran. Rather than remain shackled to the couch binge-watching shows that made him question his life choices, he picked up the phone to call his mom. “I had a great creative writing teacher back in high school,” he reminisces, “and she encouraged me. But I fell in love with filmmaking instead.” Picture this: a young Ed, torn between the glitz of cinema and the whispering call of the written word. And just when he thought he could take a short break, his mom filled his ears with heartwarming stories of yesteryear, and he got back to scribbling.

While this novel isn’t a memoir, it does weave in the threads of his Irish-American upbringing—an insider peek into the dreams of a woman who never quite got her chance to dance in the spotlight of academia. “My mom was super smart and very well-read,” he recalls wistfully, she never got to taste the bliss of a college experience. Instead, she had three options: to teach, become a nurse, or join the convent. Talk about a distinct lack of choices!

Ed understands the gravity of those unfulfilled dreams, delightfully mingling heart-wrenching moments with his signature humor. “The book gets into the thwarted dreams,” he says, revealing layers I dare say could bring a tear to your eye while also causing you to chuckle. “It’s about opportunities that slip through your fingers like sand on a breezy beach.”

Now, as the curtains fall on one act of parenthood, he’s picking up the pen—quite literally. Burns has already leaped into the next book, saying he sees this as part of a trilogy. “I’m already about 200 pages into the second novel!” he beams, full of gusto and creative ambition. And don’t let him fool you; he’s already hard at work on a sequel to his classic film The Brothers McMullen. Talk about a busy bee!

But it’s not all bittersweet nostalgia for Ed. He’s crafted a delightful blend of humor and relatability as he dives into the narrative of his character, Barry—the epitome of an empty nester suddenly faced with the chaos of his adult children moving back home for Christmas. “It’s a mix of joy and sheer panic,” he jokes, because who wouldn’t want to pull their hair out over a spate of laundry from the kids?

In a world where the winds of change can feel like an endless winter, Ed Burns is a breath of fresh air—a stalwart spirit weaving the complexities of life with humor and heart, reminding us that growing up isn’t just for the kids. As he gears up for another act, there’s only one secret he swears by: keep working. “I’m a tireless worker,” he chuckles, “I may not be the most talented, but I will outwork you!” If that’s not a dream worth chasing, I don’t know what is. Who else is ready for act two?