Adventures and Fun without Dick and Jane

When kids are part of life, but not the center of life.

with Christie Mellor

(Season 3 | Episode 118)

[TESSA] Christie Mellor and her husband Richard have an unusual and beautiful open nest. She is a writer, an actor, and a painter – I’d call that a “triple threat.”

And Christie is our guide to a delightfully empty (and possibly open) nest.

You may have heard of Christie as she is the author of The Three Martini Playdate, The Three Martini Family Vacation: her third part of this trilogy of ideas is Fun Without Dick and Jane.

In this episode, we talk through the concepts behind these books. Christie and I discuss how so many things have evolved since her early days in San Francisco in the 1960s. Christie shares how her adult children married, got jobs, and found their careers. And we talk about the “selling the house and moving to New York” thing… leaving her adult “boys” behind.

About Christie Mellor

Fun without Dick and Jane

From Christie Mellor, the best-selling author of The Three-Martini Playdate comes this hilarious (and helpful) guide to recovering from getting those little angels into college and out of the house. Filled with unapologetically funny yet entirely sympathetic advice, Mellor answers important questions (Is $200 an hour too much to spend for exam tutoring? Is moving to an apartment near campus ever an option?) and offers wise counsel on saying good-bye, getting kids to stay in touch (without begging), and coping when they come home to roost (which they will—for holidays, summer break, and possibly for years after graduation). Best of all, she inspires empty nesters to embrace their newfound freedom and enjoy their lives to the full.

From Christie’s Art Website:

Having moved from my tiny, happy kitchen in New York City, I’m currently painting and staring at trees on a tiny island in the Pacific Northwest. Author of a bunch of books, including The Three-Martini Playdate and Fun Without Dick & Jane. Former actor & voiceover person and Singer of Depression-era & original songs with the fabulous musicians of Doozy.

You can see Christie’s artwork here: Hat Monkey Studio

More Episodes about Our Adult Children and Us

Trust and the Empty Nest (Part 2)

We talk about giving each other space in this short episode. Part 2 of our intimate episode about trust and generosity.

Trust and the Empty Nest with Tessa and Amir (S3 | E147)

An episode about Trust and the Empty Nest (and generosity!) with Tessa and Amir (S3 | E147) | The Open Nesters Podcast

Empty Nest Love (in the Love Lab – S3 | E146)

Open Nesting in the Love Lab (S3 | E146) | We sit down for a second time with Sue Jaye and Joe from Relationship Tripping.

Resources for You

We want to provide you with support and many resources for your own Open Nesting Journey. Our resource page has so much to offer as does our private discussion group on Facebook about queerness and other topics of interest:

Open Nesters Resource Page

The Open Nesters Private Facebook Group

About Tessa

Tessa Krone is the engine behind and the face of The Open Nesters.

Tessa holds an MA in Consciousness Studies and is a speaker, coach, program and journey facilitator & leader, author and, of course, Podcaster.

Her offerings are based in her mission to help people open to their most self-expressed, loving selves. Tessa’s specialties include embodiment from all the senses and elements of our inner and outer lives, ranging from mindfulness, dance, play, and sensory exploration in nature. If she had one superpower, it would be to help people, especially as they age, to live more open hearted lives.