Katie Holmes opens up in a relatable interview about her empty nest syndrome

Somehow, we (collectively, as an entire nation) blinked our eyes, and Suri Holmes is all grown up. The daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes is heading to college this fall, starting a new life as a freshman at Carnegie Mellon University. And in a candid new interview with Town and Country magazine, Katie opened up about all the feelings she’s feeling as she confronts becoming an empty nester for the first time.

Unsurprisingly, she’s handling her empty nester syndrome gracefully and in some of the most relatable ways possible. Katie said she’s been trying to keep herself busy by diving into a wide range of new classes and activities, from dance classes to learning how to paint and joining a book club.

“I love a dance studio because every time you enter, you’re starting from the beginning,” she said, adding that dance is “a good, meditative way to approach the day.”

Aside from her abstract painting lessons in Central Park (which sound incredibly fun, so sign us up), Katie said her book club normally meets five times per year — but she’s petitioning to increase that, now that Suri is leaving the house.

“The members of my book club are going to get annoyed hearing from me,” she joked. “I’ll be like, ‘Let’s meet once a week.'”

Katie has always been an avid reader, and says that reading helps her “calm down,” which has probably been helpful as she’s navigated life as a single mom since her contentious divorce from Cruise. She also notes that she loves to connect with other book lovers — “You learn so much about each other—it’s a chance for everybody to share what moves them,” she said.

As for what Suri is planning for the next phase of her life? Katie stayed pretty quiet about that — not a surprise, considering she’s always stayed notoriously private about her personal and family life. Rumor has it that the 18-year-old plans to follow in her famous mom’s footsteps and pursue a career in acting or fashion.

“I’m proud of my daughter,” Katie said. “Of course, I will miss the close proximity, but I’m really proud of her and I’m happy.”

Katie was close to Suri’s age — only 19 — when she landed her breakout role on Dawson’s Creek. She said seeing her teen daughter head out into the world has made her a little nostalgic for that time.

“I remember being this age, this time of beginnings. It’s exciting to learn about yourself, and I loved that time, so it makes me happy to think about it like that,” she said.