Belinda stars as Will's (left) mum in The Inbetweeners
Children are flying the nest at this time of year, going back to school, college and even moving away to University.
What are you expected to do with all this spare time? New research has revealed that six in 10 parents dread the onset of empty nest syndrome.
The study conducted by O2 home broadband, found that mums will fare worse than dads because their child may not need them as much as before, they may feel lonely or they struggle to get used to a quieter household.
Technology however is bridging this gap. More and more parents are using home broadband to keep in touch; with plans to use email, Facebook or other social networks and even Skype - where you can speak to your child on video camera through the computer.
However, for every parent suffering, more are celebrating back home with a third of today's parents relishing the chance to try something new once the kids head off to university.
For a fifth they beat the empty nest blues by pursuing a lifelong dream like setting up their own business, travelling and weekends away. An empty nest can even help parents' love lives too: 46 per cent said they want to spend more quality time with their partner once the kids have left home.
Belinda Stewart-Wilson, who plays Polly McKenzier, on-screen mum of Will from The Inbetweeners is leading O2's Home Broadband campaign to help parents to keep in touch with their kids, she says:
"As Will's mum in The Inbetweeners, I understand how parents feel when their child leaves home for the first time. But today's parents can also see the bright side when it comes to waving their kids goodbye at the start of the new term. This is helped by the fact families have more ways than ever to keep in touch. Facebook, email, Skype and other internet based services all featured highly in our research as the top ways to regularly catch up with the kids."
Tips for keeping in touch with the kids
Tagged in Parenting University