Question: Which of the following is one way that empty nesting differs from retirement? Need Assignment Help? Parent responsibilities increase during retirement but are reduced during the empty-nest period. Parents begin to reconnect in retirement and often leave during the empty-nest period. Parent responsibilities increase during the empty-nesting period but are reduced during retirement. Empty nesting is a stage where parents reconnect in the home, but retirees choose to leave the home to move closer to their children.