Garcelle Beauvais is candidly discussing the emotional transition into life as an empty nester.
During a recent session of the People Inc. Black Affinity Group’s Legacy Chat series, the actress and former star of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills shared insights on her new chapter with her sons now grown up and out of the house.
“The atmosphere at home has definitely changed,” she revealed. “It’s like the energy has shifted.”
The actress confessed that there are instances when the reality of this new phase strikes her unexpectedly.
“Occasionally, I find myself tearing up because the daily routine of being a mom has changed,” she said. “No more thinking about dinner plans, attending games, or whipping up 25 cupcakes. All those everyday tasks are gone.”
Beauvais is mom to three sons: Oliver Saunders, whom she welcomed in 1991, and 18-year-old twins Jax Joseph Nilon and Jaid Thomas Nilon.
Now that the twins are older, she said watching them move through life on their own has been an adjustment.
“They’re both driving,” she said. “The other day they both drove and met me for dinner. Yeah, it’s different.”
She also revealed that her son Jaid is preparing for another major step.
“Jaid is moving to New York to start his modeling career,” Beauvais shared.
Although she is proud of her children, she feels the transition is “gonna be hard.”
Beauvais has often spoken publicly about motherhood over the years, including her experience becoming a mom to twins later in life. Back in 2007, she welcomed Jax and Jaid with her former husband, talent agent Michael “Mike” Nilon.
At the time, the actress described the boys as completely different from the very beginning.
“Jax came out screaming while Jaid came out looking both serious and curious about the world around him,” she previously shared in a blog post for PEOPLE.
She also reflected on the challenges she faced while trying to conceive.
“I learned the hard way that trying to have babies when you’re older is a whole different ball game,” Beauvais wrote at the time. “It took blood, sweat, lots of tears, and most importantly, fertility treatments. But I finally got pregnant. It was truly a miracle.”