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Sunrise host Natalie Barr said she felt disoriented when her sons left home, mourning their childhoods as she adjusted to a quieter house. She also described the transition as a new stage in her relationship with her sons—not the end of being their parent.
What changed when Barr’s sons left home
In an interview reported by WHO and PerthNow on June 20, 2024, Barr spoke about adjusting to life as an empty nester. At the time, the coverage said her younger son, Hunter, 19, had moved to Canberra to begin university, while her older son, Lachlan, 22, lived in Melbourne after finishing his studies. Those ages and locations describe the situation reported then, not necessarily the family’s circumstances today.
Barr said the initial adjustment left her unsure how to fill the space and time. “I was mourning their childhood and felt a bit discombobulated over not knowing what to do,” she said in the interview coverage. Her words describe her own response to this particular change, rather than a rule about how parents feel when children move out.
Parenting continues, but the relationship changes
Barr did not describe her sons’ departure as an end to her role as a parent. Instead, she said the family was learning how to relate to one another differently: “The job of being a parent isn’t ever over, but we’re in a new part of the relationship and had to learn what the different boundaries were.”
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That distinction is central to her account. The everyday arrangement of living together had changed, while the connection and responsibilities of family life remained. Her description focuses on adjusting to new boundaries as her sons became more independent.
Coming home to an empty house became easier
In separate June 2024 family coverage, WHO quoted Barr saying, “It’s not so bad coming home to an empty house now.” The comment suggests that, for Barr, the unfamiliar quiet had become easier to live with over time; it does not erase the sadness she had described about her sons’ childhoods.
A small change in her routine
The June 2024 reports also said Barr bought a Pilates reformer for home because work and other commitments made it difficult to attend classes. The coverage did not identify a brand or model. It is a detail about how she chose to fit exercise into her routine, not an endorsement or review of a particular product.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Earlier family and work context
In an April 7, 2024 first-person column for 7NEWS, Barr reflected on raising her sons while working early-morning television shifts. That column offers context about family life and work; her account of the empty-nest adjustment came later.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallA podcast episode description published on August 16, 2025, said Barr discussed adjusting to life as an empty nester, but did not provide a transcript or further specific remarks. The detail available about her feelings and family circumstances is therefore grounded in the 2024 interview coverage.
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