Adolescence is perhaps nature's way of preparing parents to welcome the empty nest.

The quip reframes the turbulence of the teenage years as an adaptive feature rather than a flaw. By suggesting that “nature” uses adolescence to ready parents for the “empty nest,” it implies that conflict, distancing, and the adolescent push for autonomy gradually loosen the intense dependency of childhood. The humor softens a difficult truth: separation is built into healthy development, and parents must evolve from caretakers to supporters at a distance. The line also offers consolation—what feels like rejection may be part of a larger, purposeful transition that helps both generations accept independence and change.