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Shields described the difficulty of leaving her daughters at college, saying, \"It was really hard, and then she started crying, and then I really started crying, and then I cried a good portion of the ride home.\"

\"I'm an empty nester. Wow,\" she said.

Shields and her husband Chris Henchy are the parents of Rowan Henchy, who entered college in 2021, and Grier Henchy, who is starting her freshman year.

When Rowan Henchy went to college, Shields also opened up on Instagram about the difficulty of one of her children leaving the nest.

\"My unique and extraordinary baby girl spreading her wings. I love you so. We are so proud of you,\" Shields wrote in a 2021 Instagram post. \"This was the saddest drive away from anywhere I've ever had to make. But my baby is BEGINNING one of the most important adventures of her life to date…NOW!\"

\"PHOTO:
Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for iHeartRadio, File
PHOTO: (L-R) Rowan Francis Henchy, Brooke Shields and Grier Hammond Henchy attend the iHeartRadio Z100s Jingle Ball 2022 Presented by Capital One at Madison Square Garden December 9, 2022 in New York, New York.
>

Shields received support on her latest Instagram post from other parents who have experienced the same thing.

\"It's definitely not easy for the moms. I call it proudache -- it's where you're proud and have heartache all at the same time. You've got this and so do they,\" wrote one commenter.

\"I'd like to say it gets better…it just becomes different. It's hard. But the joy you experience when they come home is priceless!\" wrote another commenter. \"The new things to celebrate are abundant. Hugs to you momma, hugs to you!\"

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