Alright, let's get this straight. Michelle Obama needed counseling because her kids moved out? Give me a break. We're talking about two Harvard-educated adults, not a litter of kittens.
But hey, I guess everyone's got their cross to bear. This Alice Thompson lady in The Times (of London, no less) thinks the cure for Empty Nest Syndrome is... a luxury city break to Copenhagen with your daughter.
Her argument? Gen Z kids are too busy "hustling" (eye roll) and Boomers have all the money. So, the solution is a 48-hour, parent-funded escape to Denmark. Cheaper than therapy, she claims. Is it, really?
Let's break down this Copenhagen fantasy, shall we?
Hotel Nimb: Doubles from £400 a night*. That's, like, half a month's rent for some of these "hustling" Gen Z kids.
Michelin-starred restaurants: Copenhagen's got 52 of 'em. Unless you're planning on eating cinnamon rolls* for every meal (which, admittedly, sounds kinda tempting), you're gonna be dropping serious coin.
Sauna at La Banchina: £95-110 for 105 minutes. That's more than my hourly rate, and I write* for a living.
This isn't a "cure," it's a financial black hole disguised as quality time.
And the whole "matching bikinis" anecdote? Seriously, who wants that kind of commitment? My own mother tried to get me into matching Christmas sweaters one year. The horror...
Thompson paints this picture of Copenhagen as some kind of effortless, happy utopia where everyone's effortlessly stylish, tanned, and cycling around in billowing blue shirts.
"Nobody locks them here," she says about the bikes. Yeah, right. I'm sure there's no crime in Copenhagen. It's all sunshine and pastries, right? What about the pickpockets? The tourists who wander off and get lost? What about... I don't know... reality?
And this whole "organic wine" and "arty novels" thing at the free lido? Sounds like a carefully curated Instagram feed, not real life.
Offcourse, I'm not saying Copenhagen isn't a cool city. It's got its charm. But let's not pretend it's some magical cure for the existential dread of your kids moving out. My way of dealing with an empty nest? A city break with my daughter
Plus, let's be real, the author is a guest of the hotel. So, is this a travel piece or a sneaky advert?
The subtext here is clear: This isn't about the daughter's needs. It's about the mother panicking about being alone. It's a Boomer band-aid on a deeper wound.
And while a weekend getaway might temporarily distract from the silence in the house, it's not a long-term solution. It's like putting a Ferrari engine in a Yugo; it may look good, but you're still driving a Yugo.
What happens after the pastries are eaten and the vintage shops are scoured? Does the empty nest suddenly fill itself? I don't think so.
Look, I get it. Kids grow up and leave. It's part of life. But let's not pretend that throwing money at the problem is the answer. Maybe, just maybe, Boomers could try dealing with their feelings instead of booking a flight to Scandinavia. Just spitballing here.
Boomers have all the money and Gen Z has all the angst. It's not a match made in heaven, it's a recipe for resentment – even with cinnamon rolls.
