Loose Women's Coleen Nolan has shared her struggle with a huge life change that left her feeling "bereft". Life's milestones such as births, deaths, and weddings are commonly discussed, but there are other substantial changes that don't get as much attention. In a recent podcast chat, Coleen opened up about dealing with the empty nest syndrome every parent fears when all their kids have moved out.
Speaking to podcaster GK Barry, the 59 year old TV personality revealed her sense of loss when her youngest child moved out, leaving her home empty. To fill the void, Coleen has turned her home into a sanctuary for animals. "I've got four dogs, six cats, some ducks, some chickens and some goats," she shared.
Initially having two goats, she expanded her brood by adding three more, including two "tiny babies," reports the Mirror . Coleen Nolan with her ex-husband Ray Fensome and daughter Ciara (Image: Getty Images) Coleen acknowledged that her collection of pets has expanded in response to her children moving out: "I think I've ended up getting more and more animals because my kids have all moved away. "I never thought that Empty Nest Syndrome was a thing, because when they were little, I was counting the days .
..I thought 'They're five, now not long!" However, the reality proved different: "I was thinking that it would be great you get your own life back but honest to God it's the worst feeling I've ever had bereft.
" Coleen Nolan has filled the void with a variety of pets (Image: LORNA ROACH PHOTOGRAPHY) Despite some of her children living close by, Coleen admits to feeling lonely at times. She elaborated: "Shane's only just moved out, he's 35, and Ciara lives in an annexe within the house and Jake lives in London. "But at one point they were all away.
Ciara went travelling this year for about six months, and then Shane wasn't there and Jake lives in London ...
and remember you're at that age when you're going through the menopause it's literally like nature and life are saying 'You're done now, you can die. There's no need for you any more'." Coleen Nolan, who shares two children with her first husband Shane Richie Shane Nolan, 35, and Jake Roche, 31, and a daughter, 23 year old Ciara Fensome, with her second husband Ray Fensome, has revealed that one of her children pointed out to her that she's filled her home with "surrogate children" in the form of her vast collection of animals.
Coleen Nolan was candid about the dreaded empty nest syndrome (Image: LORNA ROACH PHOTOGRAPHY) She emphasises that animals have always been a significant part of her life: "I'm just animal crazy, I always was. All I wanted to do I was to be a vet when I was growing up and then I realised that actually animals don't like vets and I thought 'No, I want them to love me'." However, she concedes, there is a hidden truth to the suggestion that she has filled her life with pets as her children have moved on to create their own lives.
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